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

In a very short time after the Indians had left
them thew passed the clouds, and came to an
oyerhaneing precipice, which they found the
greatest difficulty in surrounding, In conse-
ouence Of the impossibilily OF climbing with
out disturbing the stones, which were easily
thrown from their situations, and bounding
with the greatest violence from ROCK to rock,
alarmed and threatened the lives OF those who
were below. But, after an hours labour, they
succeeded in reaching kind of amphitheatre,
formed of basaltic rock Here again new diff.
cul,ies presen,ed themselves, being obliged to
chamber up on al-fours, and at the greatest
risk. They al length arrived al part formed
of sand and pumice stone, from whence they
sue ceeded in reaching very elevated rock,
from which the vast, extensive, and magniti-
cent city Of Mexico appeared only as a sPeck:
as one point in the almost boundless space a.
round them Here they likewise observed,
that from time 10 time shower OF small stones
came down among them, as il thrown by some
person from above. They began also TO feel at
this stage Of their progress pain in the head,
and disposition 10 ,omit, which Affected the
guide more than any Of the rest. On consult
ing their barometer they found that they were
at the height Of l6,S95 feet above the level of
the sea, and having taken light meal, they
apain resumed their task We cannot go thro'
an accoun, Of the difficulties and dangers which
they encountered before they attained the sum
nit of the mountain nor the perseverance and
constancv which :hey displayed in surmount'
ing the one and Drawing the other. NJ the
great height at which they had now arrived,
The guide Quin,ana was seized with so severe
pain IN The head, accompanied with the vom-
ting before mentioned, that he was unable to
proceed, and they were compelled TO leave him
hon thei d,sr
After ascending little higher they began to
perceive noise somewhat like distant thunder,
which they attributed TO the rain in some other
part Of the mountain, aud continued toiiing on
for considerable distance farther, frequently
stopping to rest, and violently afflicted with
pains in the head and knees, a difficulty OF
breathing, and the nausea already mentioned,
when they suddenly and to their great surprise,
found themselves on the very brink Of The era
ter.
They had passed the whole day in the mos.
profound and undisturbed solitude, without
having seen plant a bird, or the most insight
ficant insect, in the midst Of broken fragments
of rocks, and horrible precipices, in continued
danger of perishing by false step, an insecure
hold or the slightest slip OF the foot, and now
their progress was suddenly and unexpectedly
arrested by The appearance of the object Of all
first astounded by the noise and the showers Of
stones pcrpetually ascending from the unfath-
omable depths of the crater, and involuntarily
shrunk back from the awful and appalling spec
tacle. Here they were again seized with the
same deadly sickness from which they had al
ready suffered SO much, and it was sometime
before they were sufficiently recovered to con.
suit their barometer and the rmometer (the only
instruments they had brought with them.> In
The former they found that the column Of mer-
curry had risen more than fifteen inches, and
that in the thermometer it varied from SO to 80
degrees.
Proceeding to examine the crater they OBJ
served that almost all the stones which were
cast up by the frequent and almost uninterrupt.
ed eruptons, fell back again within the crater,
thus furnishing inexhaustibIe supply Of matter
for subsequent erup,ions, and that of the very
small number that fell outside Of the opening,
they were observed to descend almost invaria-
bly on the south side, and that the noise and the
roaring from time to time, rose and subsidized
in manner somewhat like the roaring Of the
sea, now sending forth clouds Of ashes and
smoke accompanied with a noise like thunder,
and again moderated SO as scarcely to be heard,
The crater appeared TO be nearly Of the form OF
tunnel, the sides inclined in the manner Of
that instrument and of immense depth, the
mouth nearly circular and a,ou, a mile in cir
conference, covered with snow only on the
moth side, and on the south so narrow and un-
equal that it was difficult to walk on that side;
on the north the brink was broader, and more
smooth and level. They were no, able on ac-
count of The clouds 10 see more than the sum-
nit OF Orizaba and the snow capped Sierra sit
uated near it.
Having made these observations, and night
coming on, they began to retrace their steps
and descended to the spot where they had left
their sick guide, intending to remain there all
night and visit the summit again the following
Gay; bit they found him so much worse than
they had apprehended, that it was deemed ne
cessary to convey him TO some situation less
elevated, and where he could receive assis
lance. So much was he weakened by his exer
tons and illness, that he was unable to walk
and our travellers began to descend, CARRYING
him with them, and struggling against the diff.
hcuities of the sandy soil with the greatest per-
severance and patience. About night they
came 10 the limits Of yepefa,on apd b.x;,,r