84 TRAVELS IN 
which feem to have once formed a part df it,' 
and to have been afterwards detached : the 
bafe confifts of pure granite, and to the very 
top it appears to be alternately compofed of 
horizontal ftrata of granite and of earth. Ac- 
cording to the meafurement given by M. de 
la Caille, it rifes three thoufand fix hundred 
feet above the level of the fea. A perfon can- 
not afcend it but by the deep fi^^ure, through 
which thofe ftreams flow that fupply the foun- 
tains of the town with water ; and even this 
route is very difficult, efpecially towards the 
top, where the fiflure becomes much nar- 
rower, and rifes almoft perpendicularly. It 
is necefTary to clamber above two hours, before 
one can reach the fummit ; where there is a 
very extenfive plain, full of enormous rocks, 
heaped together in confufion, and interfperfed 
with different kinds of fhrubs. They refem- 
ble the ruins of an immenfe city. Time and 
confpiring elements feem to have deflroyed 
their projeding parts, which gives them a very 
circular appearance. I have feen fome pieces 
of quartz as round as thofe pebbles that are 
often found on the fand near the banks of 
rivers. 
About 
