noon on September 10th
Small dwarfed trees struggled for a footing amid the lichen-covered outcroppings and sun-dried moss of the hollows . The slightest rise showed mile upon mile of great waste undulating interminably in every direction . The heat shimmering off the rocks was almost suffocating . At noon on September 10th they threw themselves into the shade of a narrow ledge , boiled some tea , and smoked their pipes , wildly fanning the air to drive away the swarms of insects that attacked them . Hooker was half drunk from lack of sleep and water . Already once or twice he had caught himself wandering when talking to Marc and Edouard . The whole thing was like a horrible , disgusting nightmare .