We had all the enjoyment and they all the misery.
I was much exhausted when we reached the camping-ground, but soon
revived under the influence of food; but the poor native, who was
really very ill, abandoned himself to wretchedness, and has only
recovered to-day.
The belt of cloud which was all radiance above, was all drizzling
fog below, and we reached Ainepo in a regular Scotch mist. The
ranchman seemed rather grumpy at our successful ascent, which
involved the failure of all their prophecies, and, indeed, we were
thoroughly unsatisfactory travellers, arriving fresh and complacent,
with neither adventures nor disasters to gladden people's hearts.
We started for this ranch seven miles further, soon after dark, and
arrived before nine, after the most successful ascent of Mauna Loa
ever made.
Without being a Sybarite, I certainly do prefer a comfortable pulu
bed to one of ridgy lava, and the fire which blazes on this broad
hearth to the camp-fire on the frozen top of the volcano. The
worthy ranchman expected us, and has treated us very sumptuously,
and even Kahele is being regaled on Chinese sorghum. The Sunday's
rest, too, is a luxury, which I wonder that travellers can ever
forego.
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