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tho' it would not be very clean — and he took my cup and filled it 

 with dirty water full of insects, but not being over particular, I 

 was glad to drink it, insects and all — he had procured it from a 

 plant that grows on the branches of the trees — very like the top 

 of a pine apple, but larger; the dews and rain fall into and 

 remain in the leaves and on cutting it and turning it upside down, 

 of course the water runs out — I dont remember the Indian 

 name, the only one I ever knew. 



At this point the guide said he had been no further and was 

 not at all sure that we could proceed — however by dint of a 

 little cutting we made our way to the side of the mountain 

 opposite, which was the lower peak of the Turquino. 



Here we came on a most beautiful part, a deep ravine with 

 some good sized trees in it, and all their trunks, as well as the 

 ground covered with moss; so that every thing was entirely 

 green, which produced a very curious appearance — following this 

 for some minutes we were considerably pleased at finding tvvo 

 pools of deliciously cool water, as cold as ice. We emptied our 

 bottles of the water we had prized so much before, and filled 

 them afresh, and drank to our hearts content — a little further 

 on we found two more pools of water, just like ink — ^it was not 

 the earth at the bottom that gave it the color, but the water 

 itself was of a bluish black. 



Round the first pools we found fresh marks of wild boars and 

 struck upon a trail of these animals, leading upwards, which we 

 followed, and after about half an hour arrived at the first peak 

 of Mt. Turquino at 11.15 a. m. 



After cutting, down some of the bushes to make a small open 

 space, we halted and had breakfast. We could see the other 

 peak looming up among the clouds, and evidently higher than 

 where we were, and a tremendous ravine betvveen us. Some 

 wanted not to go further, as the guide said it was impossible, but 

 Enrique and myself opposed it, saying it would never do to go 

 back without having been to the very top. While we were 

 talking we heard Correa's voice from down below — this decided 

 us, and leaving behind us the negroes and traps we set off at a 

 run down the hill, tumbling over the fallen trees and crashing 



