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J. D. Dana — Dissected volcanic Mountain. 



fact that the outline of the island is nearly even, instead, of 

 being indented with deep bays. 



(4.) The larger of these valleys abut at their heads against the 

 central peaks in lofty precipices — precipices of two to nearly 

 four thousand feet. Some of the larger valleys are widest at 

 the center of the island and terminated under the peaks in vast 

 amphitheatres. 



(5.) The ridges toward the borders of the island are some- 

 what broad-backed, but, over the interior, very narrow. Above 

 an elevation of 3000 feet or so (as I found in my ascent), the 

 top edge of the ridges for much of the way is but three or 

 four feet wide — too thin to be represented on a map of so 

 small scale as the above ; and in some spots it diminishes to a 

 foot, and even, at times, to a thin edge of bare rock ; and from 

 the crest the declivities either side pitch off steeply 1000 to 

 2000 feet* 



(6.) Within a mile or two of the central peaks erosion has 

 reduced the height of some of the narrow ridges a thousand 

 feet or more, or still further lowered and thinned them until 

 dwindled to a mere pinnacled wall at the base of the peaks. 



The " Crown" at the head of the Papiete Valley. 



A view of a portion of one of these thinned-down ridges, 

 called, on the island, the Crown, I here introduce from my 

 note-book. f The ascent of one of the highest peaks is possi- 

 ble only along a ridge that has kept unbroken its connection 

 with the summit, and an experienced guide is needed to make 

 sure of the right and safe way. 



My own ascent of Aorai was made by the ridge that forms 

 the west side of Matavai Valley (the valley which terminates 



* The chief error in the map as published in the Narrative arises from the 

 covering of the ridges with the conventional hachures for vegetation — these giv- 

 ing them a width of a fourth to half a mile instead of a yard or two. The top 

 edge is covered with shrubbery, and ft serves the mountaineer a good turn by 

 shutting from view the steep slopes alongside. 



f The " Crown " is at the head of the Papiete Yalley, between it and the Puna- 

 avia Yalley. 



