388 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



continued along the cliff, which sloped toward the 

 sea, in some places forming a perpendicular wall, and 

 on our right rose great masses of rock, cutting off en- 

 tirely the view of the Castillo. In half an hour we 

 came unexpectedly upon a low building, apparent- 

 ly an adoratorio, or altar, climbing to the top of 

 which, we again saw the Castillo. Beyond the 

 cliff became more rugged and barren, reminding us 

 of the witches' gathering-place in the Hartz Mount- 

 ains, as described in the Faust of Goethe ; and, 

 amid all its barrenness, from the crevices of the 

 rocks sprang a thick growth of scrubby wild palm 

 called tshike, covering the whole surface of the 

 cliff. Toiling through this, we reached another low 

 building, from the top of Avhich we again saw El 

 Castillo, but with a great chasm between, apparent- 

 ly cutting off all hope of access. By this time it 

 was late, and, afraid of being overtaken by dark- 

 ness on this wild range, we turned back. Night 

 was upon us when we again reached the shore. 

 The sandy beach was now^ a welcome relief, and at 

 a late hour we again reached the hut, having come 

 to a rapid conclusion that a frequent repetition of 

 this walk would be neither pleasant nor profitable, 

 and that, in order to get through our work with the 

 celerity we aimed at, it would be necessary again to 

 take up our abode among the ruins. 



The next morning we set out for that purpose, 

 escorted by the younger Molas, a fine lad of about 

 twenty, who considered our arrival the greatest in- 



