GUNONG KARANG. 
33 
between two deep ravines, its difficulties would have been insur- 
mountable but for the methods used to overcome its greatest obstruc- 
tions. Whenever it was very precipitous, with no projections of 
the roots of trees by which to cling, strong bamboos were placed 
perpendicularly in the ground on either side of the path, and branches 
of trees were hung transversely between them, forming flights of steps 
which, in some places, continued for fifty feet. Having ascended 
for about an hour, we reached an open space, from which I had 
been promised an extensive prospect, but to our great disappoint- 
ment, thick masses of cloud rolled at our feet, and hid every thing 
from our sight beyond the distance of a few yards. Having refreshed 
ourselves, we again advanced, and in another hour attained a part of 
the mountain where a large surface of its rock was entirely exposed. 
It consisted of strata very highly curved in their centre, was compact 
in its texture, approached to basalt in general character, and com 
tained radiated zeolite. This exposed mass was on the ridge over 
which we passed, and its strata had been probably bent by one of 
those eruptions of the volcano which at different periods had con- 
vulsed the mountain. The strata were parallel with the sides of the 
ravines, to which the line of their disturbance was perpendicular. 
The ridge over which we were ascending narrowed as we proceeded, 
and the ravines on both sides proportionably enlarged, appearing 
to have been the paths of lava at some distant period. Although 
thickly clothed with verdure, it was easy, when the clouds occa- 
sionally cleared, to trace their general form. They are narrow at 
the commencement near the bottom of the mountain, but widen as 
they ascend into immense semicircular basins. Still advancing, and 
having completed a large portion of the ascent of the mountain, 
we gained the verge of the crater, which it was my principal ob- 
ject in this excursion to visit; and now with regret I ascertained, that 
without ropes it was impossible to descend to its bottom ; and that 
there would not be sufficient time to despatch any of our attendants 
for them. I was therefore obliged to content myself with the view I 
could obtain of it from the point where I stood. Its shape is that of a 
