The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-11-28
NO. 20
LF. MCCLELLAN, Printer.

5 sausages, crested by pine apple shrub
! Beneath 1t was lava reservoir of rum
ming water, while around it grew oran-
ges, myrtles, vines sc, while in another
part OF the garden rises one ofthe lofti-
est palms OF the cocoa species, throwing
its noble column in bold relief against the
blue sky. From the windows or balco-
MES OF this house, we enjoy magnif-
cent view of the sea and the valley while
within doors we were charmed by tho
polished manners ofthe Marqusa, a real
! life MarchionessD and the beauty of her
daughters, who sang some little Spanish
songs with piano accompaniment. After
|partaking ola cup Of Canaries, I'VE were
obliged totear ourselves away from this
agreeable family, to proceed on our ardu-
Gus undertaking. AT eleven we left the
Villa d'Orotaba, by narrow, stony road,
ascending between low walls Of lava,
frequently covered with flowers and
blackberry bushes, up towards the regi,
on Of mist.
Fields of grain and potatoes lay on eli
| Their side land in the latter were men woS
men and children, enough of them en-
ployed there to have deyoured the whole
crop. AS we passed by these groups, all
of the children, most of the women, and
some ofthe men, came forward to beg
for little quarter Of q doIlar. We
passed the last habitation ofthatched cot
tages, at noon were on the Monte
Verde, or Green Mountain, so called
from its verdant clothing Of shrubbery,
of heaths, myrtles, and handsome shrub
with yellow blossoms. We were now ia
o thick mist, which was quite agreeable;
after the scorching of the no; sun below,
From hence we made level detour,
over dry water courses of blush, CONS
pact, and tracbytic lava, deeply cut and
worn by the action of the mountain tor
rents, although now entirely dry; and
level steps, covered with disiointcd frag-
ments of scattered rocks, half hidden in
the beautiful shrub with yellow blossoms,
which distilled sweet aroma through
this'Garden of the Rocks At 1886, we
emerged from the mist, and found our
selves once more in the bright sun, but
with the clouds reversed, forming per-
feet sea beneath our feet. For the first
time, the Peak itself was visible, clear
and distinct; light yellow cone, called
the PIton, rising from shoulder of black
angular masses of broken lava. But it
was on looking back upon the clouds,
milk white, and arranged in horizontal
strata, that we were filled with the ut
most admiration ana surprise. 1t looked
like toamng ocean, which had been
suddenly arrested, while dashing its bill.
lows on the nelghboring sleeps, and been
frozen fast, or like a monstrous field Of
snow, whereon one could, with s!edge,
strike out most glorious sleigh ride
We were then among ragged rocks Of
porous lava, scoria and pumice, which
would have been solitary and wild de-
sert, but for the shrubs scattered here
and there, with their white blossoms
sweet smelling, called by the guide, re-
tama, broomj the icelanders. at certain
periods, bring up their hives among these
flowers, to aid their bees in gathering
honey, AT 8, we halted at some hi. h,
Crazy peaks, called La Vista Alta -
Beneath the hot sun, without shade, fire
was kindled, pack horses unloaded, pro-
visions and water brought out for our
dinner-the branching retama, blossoms
and all, served for cooking; slices Of
Virginia ham were soon broiied to de-
licious browhness, on forked sticks, the
geological hammer soon walked into
box OF sardines.
When on our way again, we crossed
over another step, comparatively level,
of light colored pumice, almost reduced
to powder, sprinkled with detached frag-
ments Of irregular pieces OF lava, which
assumed all sorts Of fantastic shapes, tur-
rets castles, and walls standing isolated
on the pumice plain. Here, we saw
some wild goats on high cliff; they
might have felt the effects of our fire
arms, had not Cristoval threatened us
with being about to trespass on some
ones private property. AS we proceed
ed, rocks, of obsidian were seen, in de-
tached masses; and, in one place, huge
round boulders had apparently been roll
ed down the decllvity, like cannon balls;
further on streams of black, burnt,
lrreg ular fragments seemed to have been
poured down from the heights above, COW
erlng the pumice, like the operations of
some giant railroad makers. For the
last half hour we toiIed up ziezag steep
OF loose pumice, with occasionally Wit
rous rocks, and at 6, were extremely sur.
prised on ascertaning we had arrived at
the English Estancia. This was no ell
egant hotel, but place to bivouack I'M
der the clear stars of heaven. We found
some hugeround rocks, whose sides form
ed lee, whence some loose walls were
rudely run out to serve for horse and
man. Our horses were secured under