Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-07-09

be proper 10 remark neTc, e"os W ''.S -! q
tempts that have been made toreach the Top Vi
this s,upendous volcano, the present IS ."e o'!
one that has succeeded. The account Is given
in an extract from the Journal Of The gentlemen
who conducted the interesting enterprise. on
the morning of the 18th May they set Out rom
Mexico. provided with all the instruments ne
oessary for the prosecution oftaelr design; sucn
as barometers, theodeliies cronome,er, &c. anu
passed the night at the village oil Ameca.
The following day they proceeded along inc
road Of Puebla, which passes between the Two
volcanoes, with the intention OF going to ANS
co.. and when al the Ioftier pass, they TOOK the
road Of Neyerd, leading 10 the right; and having
arrived at the height at which vegetation ceas-
ed. (which according to their chronometers was
1868 feet above the level OF the sea) they met
some peasants, by whom they were Informed
that they could neither ascend 10 the summit
on ,ha, side, nor proceed TO Allisco, on account
of the sand, which entirely prevented all pas
sage in that direction; they were therefore ooliB-
ed to descend and returning 10 the road .ney
had left, to pass the night In ,he town OF d.
Nicholas de los Ranches.
On the 9Th they continued their journey to-
wards Allisco; the road leads to the east OF the
volcano and along the edge Of an extensive plain
covered with rocks OF an immense size and
loose stones, which appeared TO BE- pieces OF the
rock that had perhaps once occupied the aper-
ture Of Inc present crater. Knowing that the
town Of Iochimico was nearer to the volcano,
our Adventures determined TO proceed 10 II III
order 10 gain more information with regard 10
their expedition. The Governor OLlvAREs. who
although the proprietor of the territory upon
which the volcano is situated had never visited
it, no, only furnished them with every thing they
desired, offered to accompany, and provide them
with guides and servants TO carry their various
instruments, but also gave them The most press
ing invitation TO his house at ST. Catalina, stu
aled al the foo; ofthe mountain.
The succeeding day they availed themselves
Of the invitation Of the Goyernor-and shortly
after their arrival at his plantation, he informed
them that his occupations would not permit
hun 10 ascend with them, he however furnished
them with guide who conducted them through
thick copse 10 the limits ollhe growth Of Pines,
which they found 10 be at the height Of 1854
feet above The level Of the sea. Here they pass
I'd the night by the side Of large fire wrapl In
their cloaks; abouC twelve it rained and a shor,
time afterwards there fell very heavy frost.
On the Goth they determined to reach the
summit, and giving their instruments 10 the
care Of the servants mounted their mules and
began the ascent at half past three in the
morning by the light Of the moon. In very
short time they passed the bounds of all vegeia-
ton and entered sand plain covered with loose
stones, Tin passing which the mules were so
much fatigued that our travellers were obliged
to abandon them and pursue the Journey on
foot,) measure to which they were also impel-
led by the sight Of the immense overhanging
precipices which it would have been impossi.
BILE to pass with the mules.
They therefore in perseverance of their de-
termination threw their cloaks and two bottles
of water over their shoulders, and proceeded up
the declivity, making their way with the great
est difficulty over an uneven surface, composed
of sand rocks and fragments Of pumice stone.
DESTROYS OF reaching some precipices which
appeared to them to extend almost to the desir-
ed summit, they pushed forward with the
greatest ardour, and for some time with con.
siderable celebrity, but they found that the diff
culties OF the ascent were only beginning, so
frightful and dangerous was the precipice and
so insecure their foot hold, that, though exert
ing almost supernatural efforts, they were en-
abled to make but very little progress, by rea-
tai want of any bush or shrub by which they
might support themselves.
In addition to these disadvantages the exer-
tons they were obliged TO use, and the dimin-
ished pressure of the air, caused such excessive
fatigue, that they were Obliged to rest them
selves every fifteen or twenty steps, and after
toilng on in this manner for half a mile, they
at length arrived at the rocks so ardently desir.
ed where they found their Indians who were
waiting for them, having assembled the noun.
tain with more ease and greater speed. At
this height the thermometer maintained itself
at go ofFarenheit, (2'below of Reaumier)
the heavens were here perfectly clear; but a
dense cloud ofyapour enveloped the. horizon
and prevented hem from seeing any thing. in
the direction Of It. At eight in the morning
the sun beganto appear.
A soon as they Joined the Indians they took
light breakfast and continued the ascent by
means of some large stones which having roll
led from more elevated situation had lodged
against each other, so as to form arrow some
what in the manner Of stepping stones, but so
insecurity, and loosely arranged that they fire.
quently rolled from under the person walking,
and went laundering down the side of the
mountain, endangering the safetylof the persons
who might happen to lie below and putting
in motjon Numbers of rocks similarly citu.te6