[ 35 6 ] . . 
Tn the middle of one of the rocks was a hole, 
about two fingers breadth in diameter, whence pro- 
ceeded a noile like a great body of liquor boiling 
"very ftrongly ; and one of the company applying his 
hand to th z Jpiraculum at about a quarter of a yard 
diftance, was burnt for his curiofity. 
This Sugar-loaf is cover'd with fnow the greateft 
part of the year. The fnow was lying on it from 
October 1742 to June 1743. 
The different accounts of various authors concern- 
ing the height of this famous Pic would have in- 
cited one lefs inquifitive than I am to fatisfy his cu- 
riofity, by examining the real altitude thereof : for 
which end, between three and four o’ clock in the 
afternoon of a very ferene day, when not a cloud ap- 
peared, either on the fummit, or in the whole atmo- 
sphere, (to prevent any accidental refraction) having 
pitched on a plain along the fea-fide for my horizon- 
tal ffand, and meafuring trigonometrically a bafe fuf- 
ficiently correfponding to the angles with the greateff 
accuracy, I obferved the height to be 2566 fathoms. 
Two fubfequent obfervations by myfelf, as well 
as two antecedent ones fome years before by John 
Croffe Elq; the Britifh conful, ferved only to confirm 
my opinion of the juftnefs of this obfervation. 
Tho’ the body of the mountain is cover’d with 
clouds, the Pic is generally feen above them quite 
clear ; tho’ fometimes the contrary happens*; the 
whole body of the mountain without a cloud, and 
only the fummit of the Pic cover’d with a thick 
white cloud, as with a cap. This is often obferved 
in the fineft weather ; and the Spaniards, on this 
©ccafion, fay, El Pico tienc J'u fombrerillo puejle ; 
