. 
186 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 
bluish flame. The precipitous sides of this magnifi- 
cent amphitheatre were frihged with various ever- 
greens and aromatic shrubs, flowers, and Alpine 
plants. On the north and south sides of the base of 
the cone were two pieces of water, one perfectly pure 
and tasteless, the other strongly impregnated with sul- 
phur and alum. This lonely and beautiful spot was 
rendered more enchanting by the singularly melodious 
notes of a bird, an inhabitant of these upper solitudes, 
and altogether unknown to the other parts of the 
island— hence called, or supposed to be, czvzszble, 
as it had never been seen. 
“A century had now elapsed since the last convulsion 
of the mountain, or since any other elements had dis- 
turbed the serenity of this wilderness, besides those 
which are common to the tropical tempest. It ap- 
parently slumbered in primitive solitude and tran- 
quillity ; and from the luxuriant vegetation and growth 
of the forest, which covered its sides from base to sum- 
mit, seemed to discountenance the fact and falsify the 
record of the ancient volcano.” 
\To ascend the volcano was the object of my visit to 
Richmond, and also to procure that famous bird called 
“invisible.” For a century, the people crossing the 
mountains had heard this bird, for a century no one 
had looked upon it. No one could affirm that he had 
seen it. Its weird music, ascending from the fright- 
ful ravines on either side the narrow mountain trail, 
seemed to float near them, but the bird ever remained 
undiscovered. By a preliminary ascent I found that 
it would be necessary, in order to procure the bird, to 
spend several days on the mountain-top, as it dwelt 
