ALPINE PLANTS. 



131 



tion. Whenever the clouds surrounded them the 

 thermometer fell to 53*6°; but when the sky was 

 clear it rose to 60 8°. At the height of 6011 feet 

 they saw in a ravine a wood of palms, which formed 

 a striking contrast with the willows scattered at the 

 bottom of the valley. 



After proceeding four hours across the pastures 

 they entered a small forest. The acclivity became 

 less steep, and they observed a profusion of rare and 

 beautiful plants. At the height of 6395 feet the 

 savannas terminate, and are succeeded by a zone of 

 shrubs with tortuous branches, rigid leaves, and 

 large purple flowers, consisting of rhododendra, thi- 

 baudiae, andromedae, vaccinia, and befariae. 



Leaving this little group of alpine plants they 

 again found themselves in a savanna, and climbed 

 over part of the western dome, to descend into the 

 hollow which separates the two summits. Here 

 the vegetation was so strong and dense that they 

 were obliged to cut their way through it. On a 

 sudden they were enveloped in a thick mist, and 

 being in danger of coming inadvertently upon the 

 brink of an enormous wall of rocks, which on the 

 north side descends perpendicularly to the depth of 

 more than 6000 feet, were obliged to stop. At this 

 point, however, the negroes who carried their pro- 

 visions, and who had been detained by the recreant 

 philosopher already mentioned, overtook them, when 

 they made a poor repast, the negroes or the padre 

 having left nothing but a few olives and a little 

 bread. The guides were discouraged, and were 

 with difficulty prevented from returning. 



In the midst of the fog the electrometer of Volta, 

 armed with a smoking match, gave very sensible 

 signs of atmospheric electricity, varying frequently 

 from positive to negative, and this, together with 

 the conflict of small currents of air, appeared to in- 

 dicate a change of weather. It was only two in the 

 afternoon, and they yet entertained some hope of 



