148 TRAVELS AMONGST THE GREAT ANDES, chap. vri. 



some business. Unlike snow, it gained no coherence by being 

 beaten or trampled down, and the more they raked to extend 

 our platform the more slipped down from above. Ultimately 

 it was made sufficiently secure by scooping channels in the 

 portion of the slope which was above and tenderly pouring 

 many tons upon the slope below, so as to strengthen the base. 

 The tent-ropes were secured to large blocks of lava, which had 

 to be brought from long distances and buried in the ash. For 

 additional security four ropes were run out besides the usual 

 ones, and we rigged up our long rope as a sort of handrail to 

 the nearest convenient point of the rim of the crater, from 

 which we were distant 250 feet. When this was done, the 

 natives were sent back to the lower camp, and the Carrels and 

 I remained alone. 



We had scarcely completed our preparations when a violent 

 squall arose, which threatened to carry the whole establishment 

 away, and during an hour it was a great question whether our 

 abode would weather the storm. The squall passed away as 

 suddenly as it rose, and for the rest of our stay we were not 

 much troubled by wind. While this was occurring there was 

 another cause for alarm. A great smell of india-rubber com- 

 menced to arise, and on putting my hand to the floor of the 

 tent I found that it was on the point of melting. On placing 

 a maximum thermometer on the floor (at the point marked C 

 in the annexed diagram), it rose until it indicated 110° Faht. 

 As my feet did not feel at all warm I tried the temperature at 

 the other side of the tent (at A) and found it was only 50°, and 

 in the middle (at B) it was 72° '5. These temperatures were 

 maintained during our stay on this spot. Outside, even during 

 the daytime, the air was intensely cold ; ^ and the minimum of 



* This had been anticipated, and we suffered no inconvenience from cold. I 

 sent up a large quantity of extra ponchos and wraps, and our wearing apparel 

 was more than doubled. Besides my usual dress, I wore an extra flannel shirt, 

 a thick woollen sweater, a down dressing-gown, and a huge Ulster coat over all. 



