80 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, several plantations upon the higher grounds, which extend towards the 
mountain with a gentle slope. Here the mutineers originally built 
Dec. their summer-houses, for the purpose of enjoying the breeze and 
overlooking the yam grounds, which are more productive than those 
lower down. Near these plantations are the remains of some ancient 
morais ; and a spot is pointed out as the place where Christian was first 
buried. By a circuitous and, to us, difficult path, we reached the ridge 
of the mountain, the height of which is 1109 feet above the sea; this 
is the highest part of the island. The ridge extends in a north and 
south direction, and unites two small peaks : it is so narrow as to be in 
many parts scarcely three feet wide, and forms a dangerous pass between 
two fearful precipices. The natives were so accustomed to climb these 
crags that they unconcernedly skipped from point to point like the 
hunters of chamois; and young Christian actually jumped upon the very 
peak of a cliff, which was so small as to be scarcely sufficient for his feet 
to rest upon, and from which any other person would have shuddered 
even to look down upon the beach, lying many hundred feet at its 
base. At the northern extremity of this ridge is a cave of some interest, 
as being the intended retreat of Christian, in the event ofalandiim- 
being effected by any ship sent in pursuit of him, and where he 
resolved to sell his life as dearly as he could. In this recess he 
always kept a store of provisions, and near it erected a small hut, well 
concealed by trees, which served the purpose of a watchhouse. So 
difficult was the approach to this cave, that even if the party were 
successful in crossing the ridge, as long as his ammunition lasted, he 
might have bid defiance to any force. An unfrequented and dan- 
gerous path leads from this place to a peak which commands a view of 
the western and southern coasts: at this height, on a clear day, a 
perfect map of the bottom is exhibited by the different coloured waters. 
On all points the island is terminated by cliffs, or rocky projections ; 
off which lie scattered numerous fragments of rock, rising like so many 
black pinnacles amid the surf, which on all sides rolls in upon the shore. 
e descended by a less abrupt slope than that by which we ad- 
vanced, and took our way through yam grounds to a ravine which 
brought us to the village. The path leading down this ravine is, in 
