ITIXEEARY. 



Iv 



density : in some places it is quite hard, in others very friable, the 

 difference being especially noticeable along the lines of stratification, 

 as is so clearly shown by the irregularities of the disintegration in the 

 illustrations opposite pp. xxxi and xxxii, Vol. I. 



By keeping to the plants at the foot of the wall, the ascent from the 

 gully and the descent also are safe enough, though arduous and 

 requiring much care; but on the outer bare rock the passage is 

 dangerous, for the slope is not only very steep, but it is inclined out- 

 wards, and a slip would certainly mean a fall over the edge of about 

 1000 feet, in spite of the fact that the rock has weathered into a series 

 of small steps along the strata. On the former journey, as there was 

 water by the wall, I had ascended by the inner part of these steps on 

 all fours, and descended them sitting ; and slowly as I had gone it was 

 yet a. very unpleasant experience. 



McOonnell's narrative of the ascent on the first journey unfortu- 

 nately breaks off at this point. To complete it, it may be said that 

 the upper part of the ledge, before it merges into the plateau, is much 

 less inclined, and bears a good growth of plants — especially of Broc- 

 chinia cordylinoides — like those found on the top, which are thus being 

 gradually carried lower down, probably by their seeds. At that time, 

 as we merely wanted to get a real idea of the undertaking, we had 

 taken nothing with us but some breakfast and a collecting-tin and net, 

 intending to i-eturn to the camp and go up with our things the next 

 day, if possible ; but once up, Lloyd and I determined to make the 

 best of the night on top, in order to gain as much time as possible for 

 collecting all we could of the flora and fauna. McConnell was obliged 

 to go down to make a selection of photographic apparatus, which the 

 men would be able to bring up with other necessary things, since the 

 path was not more difficult than they could manage with light loads — 

 certainly not worse than parts ot our second journey, though there was 

 much more of it of the same character in the one spell. They had 

 come up next day ; and the three of us remained on top for the night, 

 which was passed in the rough camp I had made the day before, 

 enlarging it for the purpose. The camp is shown in the illustration 

 opposite p. xxix. Vol. I., and was made by putting up a thick shelter 

 of Bonnetia branches and tops, round a deep recess under some very 

 projecting rocks in three series above. At the inner part the ground 

 was dry at this time of year, and as there was nothing dry outside we 

 had used the leafy clumps of Bonnetia to make a fairly soft covering 

 over the rocky floor, as well as for blocking the opening. Of course, it 

 was not very comfortable, especially for McConnell's length ; but it 

 served to give us protection from the weather, and as a fact, being- 

 tired out, we slept fairly well under our blankets. Failing these on 

 the first night, Lloyd and I had nursed a fire until he asked whether 

 the moist sandstone rook overhead might not split from the heat. The 

 next day the men from the village, where most of the carriers had 

 been left under the care of the chief Jeremiah, had come up to tell us 

 they must go away, as I have already related ; and we had gone down 

 in time to reach the village by nightfall. 



Now we had a tent, which we were able to put up on an almost level 

 space in front of the old camp, where a thick sward of mostly Mono- 



e2 



