314 MANILLA. 



miry path, which was extremely slippery ; and had it not been for the 

 sticks stuck down by the party of the padre in their former ascent, 

 they would have found it extremely difficult to overcome : to make it 

 more disagreeable, it rained all the time. 



It took about two hours to reach the steep ascent. The last portion 

 of their route had been through an uninhabited region, with some 

 openings in the woods, affording pasture-grounds to a few small herds 

 of buffalo. In three hours they reached the half-way house, by a very 

 steep and regular ascent. Here the natives insisted upon stopping to 

 cook their breakfast, as they had not yet partaken of any thing through 

 the day. The natives now endeavoured to persuade them it was im- 

 practicable to go any farther, or at least to reach the top of the moun- 

 tain and return before night. Our gentlemen lost their patience at the 

 delay, and after an hour's endurance of it, resolved to set out alone. 

 Six of the natives followed them, and by half-past three they reached 

 the summit, where they found it cold and uncomfortable. The ascent 

 had been difficult, and was principally accomplished by catching hold 

 of shrubs and the roots of trees. The summit is comparatively bare, 

 and not more than fifty feet in width. The side opposite to that by 

 which they mounted was perpendicular, but owing to the thick fog 

 they could not see the depth to which the precipice descended. 



The observations with the barometers were speedily taken, which 

 gave the height of Banajoa as six thousand five hundred feet. The 

 trees on the summit were twenty or thirty feet high, and a species 

 of fir was very common. Gaultheria, attached to the trunks of trees, 

 Rhododendrons, and Polygonums, also abounded. The rocks were so 

 covered with soil that it was difficult to ascertain their character; Dr. 

 Pickering is of opinion, however, that they are not volcanic. The 

 house on the summit afforded them little or no shelter ; being a mere 

 shed, open on all sides, they found it untenantable, and determined to 

 return as soon as their observations were finished, to the half-way 

 house, which they reached before dark. 



The night was passed uncomfortably, and in the morning they made 

 an early start down the mountain to reach the native village at its foot, 

 where they were refreshed with a cup of chocolate, cakes, and some 

 dulces, according to the custom of the country. At ten o'clock they 

 reached the "mission, where they were received by the padre and Mr. 

 Stui'ges. The former was greatly astonished to hear that they had 

 really been to the summit, and had accomplished in twenty-four hours 

 what he had deemed a labour of three days. He quickly attended to 

 their wants, the first among which was dry clothing; and as their 

 baggage had unfortunately been left at Santa Cruz, the wardrobe of 



