Dec. 1834. 



TRES MOx\TES. 



343 



We staid here three days. The weather continued bad ; 

 but this did not much signify, for the surface of the land in 

 all these islands is all but impassable. The coast is so very 

 rugged, that to attempt to walk in that direction requires 

 continued scrambling up and down, over the sharp rocks of 

 mica slate ; and as for the woods — our faces, hands, and shin- 

 bones all bore witness to the maltreatment we received in 

 merely attempting to penetrate their forbidden recesses. 



December 18th. — We stood out to sea. On the 20th 

 we bade farewell to the south, and with a fair wind turned 

 the ship's head northward. From Cape Tres Montes we 

 sailed pleasantly along the lofty weather-beaten coast; which 

 is remarkable for the bold outline of its hills, and the thick 

 covering of forest — even on the almost precipitous iianks. 

 The next day a harbour was discovered, w^hich on this dan- 

 gerous coast might be of great utility to a distressed vessel. 

 It can easily be recognised by a hill 1600 feet high, which is 

 even more perfectly conical than the famous sugar-loaf at Rio 

 de Janeiro. The next day, after anchoring, I succeeded in 

 reaching the summit of this hill. It was a laborious under- 

 taking, for the sides were so steep, that in some parts it was 

 necessary to use the trees as ladders : there were also several 

 extensive brakes of the Fuchsia covered with its beautiful 

 drooping flowers, but very difficult to crawl through. In 

 these wild countries it gives much delight, to gain the summit 

 of any mountain. There is an indefinite expectation of , 

 meeting something very strange, which, however often it may 

 be balked, never failed with me to recur on each successive 

 attempt. Every one must know the feeling of triumph and 

 pride which a grand viev/ from a height communicates to the 

 mind. In these little frequented countries there is also 

 joined to it some vanity, that you perhaps are the first man 

 who ever stood on this pinnacle or admired this view. 



A strong desire is always felt to ascertain, whether any 

 body has previously visited the place. A bit of wood with a 

 nail in it is picked up and studied, as if it were covered with 

 hieroglyphics. Possessed with this feeling, I was much in- 



