The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-11-29
VOLCAN DE TOLUCA.

an officer OF the Fourth Altlllery, VINO maze
one pf the party. was originally published in
THE Ouibnsi .Ennrd," n small Aberican
paper printed at roIuca.-Nat. Intel.
Having brcakfasted, and the dav being
fair, not cloud obscuring the horizon, our
pans, Ike: ties, meats, and ea,ables of all kinds
were slowed away in our wagons, together
with The knapsacks and blankets of some
fifty men, who had volunteered from the
Fourth Artillery 10 accompany us, and about
eight o'clock on the morning Of the 18th of
March we started upon our expedition to The
Snow Mountain of Toluca. In about two
hours we reached the hacienda OF Gauda-
Iope, passing the little hill of TIactepcc on
our eff. Procuring guides here we con'Inu-
ed on, and, with our wagons, entered some
three miles into the pine forest that enclrcles
the mountain, and their blvouacke for the
eht. Some two or thee tents, brought in
The wagons, were pitched, houses Of pine
tree boughs were built. and in short time
The place had The appearance Of small vii
Iage. Huge fires sprung up all around US
as if by magic, and soon every one was EN-
ployed IN cooking, making bowers, bringing
water from a small stream near by, or hunt
ing dry wood for The fires. All was hustle,
life and hilariy.
The sun soon set, and the wind c"mmen-
ced blowing, bringing up huge masses OF
clouds, that as The night set in. rainy and
stariess, seemed to fill every one with des-
pondlng and anxiety for The weather on the
morrow. The cold was severe, and we
continued sitting around our fires, making
merry with our chocolate and hot punches
until q late hour, when, one by one the party
stole off. to sleep as comfortably as The NUN.
ber of blankets each man had brought would
permit him.
The next morning beforc sunrise, every
one had prepared his own breakfast. my
self then thought that nothing could have
tasted sweeter than cup of chocolate "f my
own make, and The leg OF chicken. Break
fast over, our horses were saddled, and. the
guides leading we were soon on our winding
way, pursuing narrow path through The To-
resi-. which seemed 10 me inlerminablc.
As VIC had feared The morning was cloudy
and the mist so dense that we could scarce
y sec the guides before Us. The trees be-
came smaller and more suntcd as we pro-
ceeded, and finally disappeared altogether.
We then emerged into sort of wild ascen-
ding prairie covered with alargc rank growth
of grass, which had the appearance. from
ToIuca, of banks Of sand. Continuing on
over this prairie for some three miles, we ar
rived at the foot of a steep hill. On reach
ing the top of this we found that we were
now only separated from the highest peak
by deep intervening valley. Passing
through tins and up sight elevation on the
other SIDE We at length stood at the base OF
the towering snow,opped SUBMITS far above.
Our parry now scattered, some leaving
their horses here, commenced the ascent "f
the hill, at whose base we then stood, while
others continued on toward the peak beyond
the lakes. My horse being completely ex-
hauslcd, left him and commenced the first
ascent at hand. After climbing shirt dis
tance stopped and gazed with wonder up.
ON the scene bef,rc me. My further ascent
was TO be over perfect mass of piled up
rocks, black. rent into prlsInatIc blocks and
through whose clevces the eve would &C
casionaIIy penetrate into many a dark re-
cess. .:.c....
The ascent was So difficult and tiresodne,
from the rarfied state uf the air, that but few
upward steps could be taken al a time, aud
then the heart would throb with violence,
and the air in the lungs seem exhausted
The head would swim, and not until one
had inhaled copious draught of air could lie
continue on. Alter climbing UP f"f more
than ain hour, completely exhausted, | seat.
ed myself upon projecting rock and gazed
around in bitter dlsappon'ment-:dehst mist
and clouds hid everything from my view
Blu, while sitting here the gods seemed t"
take compassion on me, and in reward tor
nv perseverance,, with one blast swept the
mist and clouds from before me, revealing to
my longing eyes, in the far east, the snow
topped SUBMITS of Popocatapctl and lzlacI'
huatl.
Below me lay the fertile valley ofTouca
which though bounded on the east by lofty
ridge, now seemed to be shut in by the
mcrcst hills. Over their tops could be seen
the far famed valley Of Ana!nac, and still
further on TO my rig rose that mariner:
guide, high alofi amid the clouds. the snow
topped peak of Orzaba. This scene was
disclosed but for moment, and again tho
envious mist enshrouded all in obscurlly,
Continuing the ascent, at the last stood
on the highest pinnacle of this range, ant
there now only remained above me on the
opposite side of the lake whose deep blue
waters lay calm below, the high unaP
proachabe peaks of the western ridge.
Again the mist for an instant broke away
and looked with longing eyes to the ives
If possible, 10 see the bright water OF III
. Pacific, but this was denied me-the al