To my surprise, the pole penetrated without resistance to the very branches where our dwelling was, and the stone went to the roots.

It was entirely hollow, and I thought I could easily fix a winding staircase in this wide tunnel.

It would seem, that this huge tree, like the willow of our country, is nourished through the bark, for it was flourishing in luxuriant beauty.
We began by cutting a doorway, on the side facing the sea, of the size of the door we had brought from the captain's cabin, with its framework, thus securing ourselves from invasion on that side.

We then cleansed, and perfectly smoothed the cavity, fixing in the middle the trunk of a tree about ten feet high, to serve for the axis of the staircase.

We had prepared, the evening before, a number of boards from the staves of a large barrel, to form our steps.