unlike the backs
of two whales. On our left we had an immense crack or fissure extending
from north-east to south-west between the hill-range on which we
travelled and another on the south--both showing huge domes of eruptive
rock, apparently extensive flows of red lava subsequently blackened on
the surface by weathering. On the opposite side to ours the rock was
exposed all along the fissure for a great height, except the surface
padding on the summit, where beautiful fresh green grass was in contrast
to the deep tones of the rock. On our side we were still struggling in
ashes and sand, with striated and much indented boulders of lava showing
through.

We found many _sicupira_ nuts, of a small, flat and fat oval shape, and a
yellow-ochre colour. The shell contained many tiny cells or
chambers--just like the section of a beehive. Each chamber was full of a
bitter oil, said to cure almost any complaint known.

On May 22nd I took observations with the hypsometrical apparatus in order
to obtain the correct elevation, and also as a check to the several
aneroids I was using for differential altitudes. Water boiled at a
temperature of 210 deg. with a temperature of the atmosphere of 70 deg. Fahr.
This would make the elevation at that spot 1,490 ft. above the sea level.
The aneroids registered 1,480 ft.

We came upon two strange rocks, one resembling the head and neck of a
much-eroded Sphinx--of natural formation--blackened, knobby, and with
deep grooves; the other not unlike a giant mushroom. The sphinx-like rock
stood upon a pedestal also of rock in several strata. The head was
resting on a stratum 1 ft. thick, of a brilliant red, and at a slight
dip. Under it was a white stratum much cracked, after which came a
stratum of white and red blending into each other. This stratum, 2 ft.
thick, showed the white more diffused in the upper part than the lower.
The lowest stratum of all exposed was of a deep red.

Near this stood erect another columnar rock of a similar shape, the head
and base entirely of red rock. It was eroded on the north-west side to
such an extent that it was almost concave in the lower part. This rock,
too, showed great cracks and a slight dip north-west in the strata.
Vertical fissures were noticeable, and seemed caused by concussion.

A third rock--flat, with a convex bottom--stood as if on a pivot on the
angular point of a pyramidal larger rock, this larger rock in its turn
resting over a huge base. Th