The First Ascent of Roraima. 33 
when we practically proved the possibility, maintained 
that it would be impossible to climb over this broken 
part of the ledge and even eventually on this account 
declined to accompany us on our ascent. But the most 
doubtful point of all was where, some two-thirds up the 
length of the ledge, a considerable stream of water fell 
on to it from the summit of Roraima. This stream, 
falling on the ledge, had eaten away, and made a deep 
gap, impenetrable to the eye from below, in its surface. 
It certainly appeared that this might well be impassable ; 
and our only hope was that we might just possibly be 
able to climb down into it, and up its further side and 
so on to the upper part of the ledge, which from that 
point to the summit of the mountain seemed accessible 
enough. 
The path to the foot of the ledge once cleared, and 
all such observations as could be made from below 
having been completed, we still had to wait for a tolera- 
bly clear day on which we might make our first attempt 
to ascend with some prospect of success. This we did 
not get for some time, to the great trial of our patience, 
we almost fearing to spend so much of our time on that 
side of Roraima unless we could be more certain of 
success there than we then felt. 
At last, on Sunday the 14th of December, though the 
morning did not seem to promise an altogether fine day, 
yet, unwilling to lose another day and fearing yet more 
to leave the Arekoonas longer unoccupied lest they should 
have time to discover the discomforts of the place, we 
made a start for the top by way of the new path, at 9 a.m. 
We found that the path had been cleared only just 
sufficiently to allow us to pass, and that not without con- 
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