by this we descended by a Rope, which our Servants held at the Top, whilst the other end being fastned about our Middles, we swing ourselves, till being over a Bank of Snow, we slide down, and light upon it. We were forced to swing thus in the Descent, because in the middle of the Bottom of this Cave, opposite to the Overture at the Top, is a round Pit of Water, resembling a Well, the Surface whereof is about a Yard lower than the Snow, but as wide as the Mouth at Top, and is about six Fathom deep. We suppose this Water not a Spring, but dissolv'd Snow blown in, or Water trickling through the Rocks.
"About the Sides of the Grot, for some height, there is Ice and Icicles hanging down to the Snow. But being quickly weary of this excessive cold Place, and drawn up again, we continued our Descent from the Mountains by the same Passages we went up the Day before, and so about five in the Evening arrived at Oratava, from whence we we set forth, our Faces so red and sore, that to cool them, we were forced to wash and bath them in Whites of Eggs, &c.
The whole Height of the Pico in perpendicular is vulgarly esteem'd to be two Miles and a half. No Trees, Herbs, or Shrubs in all the Passage but Pines,
and amongst the whiter Sands a kind of Broom, being a bushy Plant; and at the side where we lay all Night, a kind of Cordon, which hath Stems of eight Foot high, the Trunk near half a Foot thick, every Stem growing in four Squares, and emerging from the Ground like Tuffets of Rushes; upon the Edges of these Stems grow very small red Buttons or Berries, which being Squeezed produced a poi-
