It took about two hours to reach the steep ascent.  The last portion of their route had been through an uninhabited region, with some openings in the woods, affording pasture-grounds to a few small herds of buffalo.  In three hours they reached the half-way house, by a very steep and regular ascent.  Here the natives insisted upon stopping to cook their breakfast, as they had not yet partaken of anything through the day.  The natives now endeavored to persuade them it was impracticable to go any farther, or at least to reach the top of the mountain and return before night.  Our gentlemen lost their patience at the delay, and after an hour’s endurance of it, resolved to set out alone.  Six of the natives followed them, and by half-past three they reached the summit, where they found it cold and uncomfortable.  The ascent had been difficult, and was principally accomplished by catching hold of shrubs and the roots of trees.  The summit is comparatively bare, and not more than fifty feet in width.  The side opposite to that by which they mounted was perpendicular, but owing to the thick fog they could not see the depth to which the precipice descended.

The observations with the barometers were speedily taken, which gave the height of Banajao as six thousand five hundred feet.  The trees on the summit were twenty or thirty feet high, and a species of fir was very common.  Gaultheria, attached to the trunks of trees, Rhododendrons, and Polygonums, also abounded.  The rocks were so covered with soil that it was difficult to ascertain their character; Dr. Pickering is of opinion, however, that they are not volcanic.  The house on the summit afforded them little or no shelter; being a mere shed, open on all sides, they found it untenantable, and determined to return as soon as their observations were finished, to the half-way house, which they reached before dark.

The night was passed uncomfortably, and in the morning they made an early start down the mountain to reach the native village at its foot, where they were refreshed with a cup of chocolate, cakes, and some dulces, according to the custom of the country.  At ten o’clock they reached the mission, where they were received by the padre and Mr. Sturges.  The former was greatly astonished to hear that they had really been to the summit, and had accomplished in twenty-four hours what he had deemed a labor of three days.  He quickly attended to their wants, the first among which was dry clothing; and as their baggage had unfortunately been left at Santa Cruz, the wardrobe of the rotund padre was placed at their disposal.  Although the fit was rather uncouth on the spare forms of our gentlemen, yet his clothes served the purpose tolerably well, and were thankfully made use of.  During their absence, Mr. Sturges had been much amused with the discipline he had witnessed at the hands of the church, which here seem to be the only visible ruling power.  Two young natives had made complaint to the padre