MOUNTAIN LAKE. 
61 
at daylight for the purpose of having a little excursion 
to the lake on the summit of the island. The path 
was at first tolerably good. Several chapels were 
passed, in one of which we took shelter from a shower 
finding it most conveniently open ; indeed it seemed 
to be more used as a half-way house than as "a 
place of worship. A large party of natives who were 
going to fetch palm-wine from the mountain, or water 
from the lake, also took advantage of it, but more 
probably from a desire to see us, and obtain some 
little gift than from fear of the rain. 
Towards the upper part of the hill, we passed 
several enclosures of cassada, cotton, sugar-cane, &c., 
neatly fenced off. After rather more than an hour’s 
walk, we arrived at the beautiful little circular lake, 
situated about 737 feet above the level of the sea, 
according to Commander Allen’s measurement with 
the mountain barometer, which was, however, but an 
approximation. This has evidently been the crater 
of an extinct volcano. It is surrounded on all sides 
by a high ridge, except where it declines towards the 
north, marking the point of exit of the streams of lava 
which flowed towards the sea during the activity of 
the ancient volcano, and where now the water which 
lias occupied its place overflows in the rainy season. 
The lake was now at its lowest, so that no water 
passed over, and the inhabitants of the town, who 
have no other supply, were obliged to send up for it 
every morning. We saw a picturesque group of boys 
