Grayson.] 294 [June 7, 



These lava paths and craters can be distinctly seen from the ocean a 

 few miles from shore. Our shoes were soon worn out by these sharp 

 rocks, and some of our party were compelled to make shoes, or rather 

 a nondescript between a shoe and a moccasin, of seal skin, which 

 happened to be on board the sloop. 



"On the morning of the 28th I started out early and alone, pre- 

 pared to ascend the mountain and penetrate as far as possible the 

 interior; hoping to find something new and worthy of a place 

 among my collection, as well as to learn more of the topography of 

 the country. After travelling for a few miles over volcanic ridges, 

 intercepted with brushy gulches and vast piles of crumbling sharp 

 stones, I at length reached the head of a small, deep valley, which is 

 overgrown with scrubby brush and an occasional small or stunted 

 green tree ; this dry valley or gulch runs toward the southern shore 

 of the Island; two deep gorges are here confluent, coming from 

 towards the mountain peak that stands near the centre of the 

 Island ; these gulches are very rocky and enclosed with precipices on 

 both sides. I descended with some difficulty into this valley, for the 

 purpose of going up one of the gorges mentioned ; they had a fresh 

 green appearance in then- narrow windings, in which water might be 

 found ; and where there is water, there would be found most likely 

 the objects of my research; I observed the small ground dove 

 (ChcemepeliaT) passing up these gulches, may be to some watering 

 place. 



"On attempting to explore these wild and mysterious regions, I 

 found the difficulty too great, on account of the tangled brush and 

 the rank coarse grass that grew among it; there were also many 

 strange looking holes, which had the appearance of having once 

 been the vents of an interior fire, now extinct. The ground sounded 

 hollow, as I stumbled over these places, and a horrible sensation 

 came over me as I thought of the danger of falling through into 

 some dark cavern, from the gloomy depths of which there could be 

 no return to light. With these obstacles surrounding me, the idea 

 of penetrating this gorge was abandoned for the present. Before 

 again ascending the ridge I set fire to the grass, for the purpose of 

 clearing away these impediments, and would at another time make 

 the attempt with a better chance of success. The fire soon spread 

 with great rapidity, making clean work of brush and grass. Im- 

 mense columns of black smoke ascended to the clouds and might be 

 seen fifty miles at sea, were a vessel within that distance. On again 



