returned to their attack with renewed
vigour.

We rose again to an altitude of 2,380 ft. on another great dome of red
lava, which had flowed northwards, as could be plainly seen as we
ascended on its rounded back. Upon it were quantities of crystals and
yellow lava pellets and pebbles and carbonated rock, resting on whitish
and grey ashes. On the summit, where fully exposed, numerous
perforations, cracks and striations were visible in the flow, we were
able to observe plainly how the lava in a liquid state had flowed and
quickly cooled while other strata of liquid lava flowed over it, one
overlapping another like the scales of a fish, and forming so many oval
or ovoid bosses with channels between.

From that high point we had a perfectly level sky-line all around us,
except for the Paredao Grande and the Paredaozinho, then to the E.N.E. of
us.

At an elevation of 2,520 ft. we perceived that day to the E.S.E. a
double-towered massive rocky mountain of a brilliant red colour,
reminding one of the shape of an Egyptian temple, and a lower hill range
in undulations behind it to the south, projecting at its sides.

We were marching on the northern edge of deep and extensive depressions
to the south and south-east of us. Domed undulations in progressive steps
from north to south were noticeable in the southern portion of the
landscape, and from south to north in the northern and much-wooded zone.

When we were at an elevation of 2,550 ft. we had still red and yellow
sand and ashes with stunted and sparse vegetation. Upon descending we
skirted the southern side of another peculiar oval basin--this time one
which possessed a thin strip or row of tall vegetation in perfect
alignment in the central line of depression. A deep deposit of grey ashes
and sand encircled this _cuvette_. The general longitudinal direction of
the oval was from the south, the highest point, to the north, the lowest
of the rim.

Having travelled 28 kil. from Areal we made camp on a streamlet flowing
north.

The company of my men was a great trial to me--a penance I had to bear in
silence. What was more, I could not let it appear in the slightest degree
that it was a penance to me, if I did not wish to make matters worse.
Pusillanimity and fear are two qualities which I cannot quite understand
nor admit in men. Hence, it is well to be imagined what I suffered in
being with followers who, with the exception of Alcides and Filippe the
negro, were afr