, 1894-06-30
A NEW ROAD TO THE BOILING
LAKE OF DOMINICA.

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The following gentlemen, Messrs. n. A.
Frampton, II. G. Rose, f. A. Agar md A. Y.
Crouch, accompanied by Gil Laudat and
Cock as guides, succeeded on Whit Monday
In discovering n new road to the Boiling
Lake which promises to be considerably short
or and easier than the old track from Laudat.
Mr.. ~Frampton, had noticed that from Walton
Waven Roseau lay due West and Watt Noun
tain due East, and suggested that through
Walton, Waven was the natural and direct
road to the Lake. This 1t will be remembered
was Watts starting point on his %eventful
journey in 1873. With nm idea of verifying
Mr.. Frampton's suggestion She above party
left Walton Waven at Z o'clock in tia morn
ing. The first three or four miles of the road
was easy travelling, a well-deined cattle
track running up to the edge Of A vril Nelson's
clearing at Robinson. At this point they
struck into the high woods, with some tre-
pIdatiOn as they thought of the unpleasant
adventures of the man who last travelled
that road. For an hour or so the line of
march was perfectly straight. no precipices
barring the way and no obstacles compelling
them to make 'dGtours.' Then however the
guides turned abruptly to the North, apper-
emily intending to try and strike the Laudat
road a mile or so from the crater. A sharp
ascent Of a few hundred feot placed them on
a ridge whore difficulties began. This ledge
measured barely three feet wide aud on one
side was Il sheer precipice of two hundred and
fifty feet, on the other all almost perpendicu-
lar cliff of fvo hundred feet. The guides
advice was, "If you fall, fall to the left"
Along this ledge the route ran for about a
quarter of a mile, the party being all the
time in imminent danger, a single false step
entailing certain death. Mr.. Frampton
therefore insisted on retracing the path and
making direct for the Lake by compass
After an animated discussion he obtained his
point: they turned, descended from this peril
GUS position and climbed the opposite ridge.
Then came the most anxious moment of the
trip. Gil Landau, the elder of the guides. a
patriarch of II, climbed a tree on the summit
and gazed carefully around. Ga his decision
it depended whether the attempt should be
abandoned or proceeded with. Apparently
he was satisfied, for starting off at a brisk
pace, in less than an hour the whole party to
their intense delight stood on the edge of the
crater about fifty yards from where the
Lsudat road enters. The journey had taken
exactly four hours from Walton Waven. This
considering the fact that certainly an hour
had been wasted i'll ascending the ridge and
in returning, and that the road had to be cut.
distinctly points to the new route being
quicker than the old. After lunching,
wandering about the Lake and a hot sulphur
bath, the homeward journey was commenced.
They left the crater's edge at 3 o'clock.
The return was uneventful but speedy and
at $50 they were comfortably seated in the
house at Walton Waven drinking to the
happy result of their attempt. They speak
in the highest terms of the skill and sagaoity
of Gil Laudat and Cock, either of whom
is amply qualified to conduct any party
over this. the most natural aud the easiest
road to the Boiling Lake.-Dominican, 4h