ASCENT OF THE MOUNTAIN. 



225 



kind of zone, so lightly supported however, that the slightest touch 

 sets them in motion. This naturally alarmed the Indians, who de- 

 clined going any farther; but by persuasions and promises they 

 succeeded in getting them to advance. Seeing, however, that the 

 ~oad was becoming rather worse, all further means of persuasion 

 to induce them to proceed began to fail. They endeavored to as- 

 cend through a gulley which they had perceived on their left; but 

 the way thither was very difficult, and was rendered more perilous 

 by clouds which prevented their distinguishing any thing. Here 

 the Indians entirely refused to stir any further, and having given 

 them part of the provisions, they were sent with the baggage to 

 wait at the place where they had encamped the night before. 

 This circumstance very much discouraged the travellers. Being 

 left without instruments they had to relinquish the physical and 

 astronomical observations which they had proposed to make, and 

 thereby missed the principal object of their journey. They never- 

 theless determined to persevere, for the purpose of examining well 

 the situation, and noting such points as might facilitate any subse- 

 quent attempt undertaken with better preparations. 



Soon after this the clouds dispersed, and they reached a passage 

 which w T as very steep and covered with loose stones, and through 

 which they ascended with much labor, extending their line so 

 as to prevent the stones rolling on those below. The fatigue and 

 the pain in their knees, obliged them to rest every eight or ten 

 paces. After an hour's travelling in this manner they reached a body 

 of basaltic rock, which being very steep they could not surmount 

 but with great difficulty, and only by leaping from one rock to the 

 other, at great risk. After this they got into a bed of loose sand, 

 (apparently pumice stone reduced to dust,) and ascended to a very 

 high rock, which from Mexico appears like a speck. The rock is a 

 great mass of compact black basalt forming some imperfect pillars, 

 the fissures being filled with solid ice. 



They observed from time to time small stones falling upon 

 them, as if thrown from above, and began to experience head- 

 ache and nausea, which affected Quintana more than the others. 

 The barometrical observation here showed an elevation of 16,895 

 English feet above the ocean. After taking some slight refresh- 

 ments, and resting about an hour, they continued their ascent. 



It is impossible to detail the particulars of the frequent difficul- 

 ties and risks encountered until the explorers reached the sandy ac- 

 clivity which forms the dome of the mountain, and the firmness 

 with which they overcame them. At this point they took another 



