C 443 ] 
withered and pale, fo that both to the fight and to the 
touch, it refembled much a dry and fhriveled blad- 
der. Notwithftanding this we were fenfible of no 
other inconvenience but what arofe from the wind 
and the cold : the action of the lungs and the func- 
tions of all the other parts of the body were perfectly 
free, though the barometer was only at 19 inches, 
6 lines and a half. 
84. We quitted the fummit at about a quarter af- 
ter two, to Ihelter ourfelves from the wind behind 
fiome rocks, which were nearly 50 toifes lower. Here 
we ftayed about an hour. During this time the hy- 
grometer, expofed to the air, but always in the (hade, 
rofe by imperceptible degrees to 1 q 2^. It would 
probably have rifen higher, had not we been obliged 
to quit this place, where the clouds began to gather, 
in order to reach the cottages before night. It was 
indeed already too late before we thought of retiring ; 
for we were overtaken by the night, and a thunder 
florm, at a lufficient diflance from our hut toexpofe 
us to the greateft danger of being loft, notwithftand- 
ing our guides, but for the affiftance of two women, 
whole humanity deferves the higheft commenda- 
tions. Thefe women, who lived in our cottages, 
being apprized of our diftrefs by our cries, notwith- 
ftanding the ftorm, and the fcarcity of wood in thefe 
places, came out to kindle a great fire at the foot of ‘ 
the rocks on which we were wandering amidft the 
precipices, in total darknefs ; and fometimes with 
- great difficulty keeping the fire alive, lometimes ad- 
vancing towards us with fire-brands till the wind 
and rain extinguifhed them, and endeavoured, with 
the moft unaffe&ed coucern, to paint out to us the 
Vcl. LX 1 II. M m in fath 
