sufficient of our way to avoid being dashed to pieces.  About two hours before sunset, after a descent of upwards of five thousand feet, we found ourselves at the bottom of the glen, through which ran a small stream; but a passage down it was impossible, as it fell over rocky precipices to a still greater depth.  The opposite side was a mountain equally steep with the one we had just descended.  The horses were also so weak that it was impossible they could take their loads up it, and there was no possibility of remaining on the spot, since there was neither grass nor room even to lie down.  All the heavy baggage was therefore obliged to be left behind, and by unremitted exertion we were enabled to gain a small spot of ground, formed by the mountains retiring from the immediate descent to the gulf below.  It was, however, near eight o’clock before this was accomplished; and we were after all obliged to leave two of the horses below, as all our attempts to move them were fruitless, even when unladen; a circumstance which we lamented the more, as they were on a spot that did not afford a blade of grass.  The rain ceasing, was succeeded about nine o’clock by one of the severest storms of wind I ever remember to have witnessed; and for the first time perhaps during the journey, we were alarmed for our personal safety.  The howling of the wind down the sides of the mountain, the violent agitation of the trees, and the crash of falling branches, made us every instant fear that we should be buried under the ruins of some of the stupendous trees which surrounded us.

September 23.—­Towards midnight the storm abated, and allowed us to pass the remainder of the night in comparative comfort.  The morning broke fair, and as the state of the horses would not permit us to attempt ascending the mountain with the baggage to-day, I contented myself with dispatching them for the provisions left last night at the bottom of the precipice, and to get up if possible the two remaining horses, whilst Mr. Evans and myself should explore the range, and endeavour to find out a somewhat more practicable route.  We proceeded to ascend the mountain, the summit of which was near two miles distant, and in many places extremely difficult and abrupt.  We however remarked on our road seven native huts, which increased our hopes that these mountains would lead by a comparatively easy descent to the coast line of country.  Bilboa’s ecstasy at the first sight of the South Sea could not have been greater than ours, when on gaining the summit of this mountain, we beheld Old Ocean at our feet:  it inspired as with new life:  every difficulty vanished, and in imagination we were already at home.  We proceeded sufficiently far to discover, that although our descent would be both difficult and dangerous, it would not be impracticable.  The country between us and the sea was broken into considerable forest hills and pleasing valleys, down the principal of which we could distinguish