In Search of an Unknown Race — page 93: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

VAN. 83 At the largest of the houses the three sat down to an appetizing meal of fried fish from the lake. Then began the last part of the journey to Itambez. Four of the Pescados went ahead, clearing the way through the matted underbrush and vines by means of a heavy knife like an elongated cleaver. The remainder, who were armed with bows and arrows, acted both as escort and burden-bearers-—pro- visions for a three days’ journey being taken. Ascending a vast extent of table land, where few trees were growing, they took their way due south, following the course of the river, which flowed below in a deep hollow between the foothills. Long grass, cactus and tangled lianas impeded the way, and without the knives it would have been an impossibility to have proceeded. But so wonderfully grand was the scenery of the mountains, whose base they were slowly nearing, that these minor discomforts were disregarded. Above the majestic peaks one rose pre-eminent; and, unlike its fellows, the snow-strewn summit was black- ened and streaked in great areas, while mingling with the clouds about the truncated cone was a murky | thread of smoke, which, like the guide established fo1 the Israelites, was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. For this was the volcanic peak called Escomada— ‘‘the cone of flame ”—whose internal fires had been fot centuries smouldering in the heart of the mountain. But for the past year slight eruptions had taken place, and the blackening of the snow, which Van had noticed, was produced by the intense heat, though ne lava had overflowed the crater. Eomicboo CS