Au sommet des montagnes Du battant des lames au sommet des montagnes

high point of island, piton des neiges not sommet des montagnes ( summit of mountains ) referred in original expression.

the montagnes expression refers island s 2 mountainous massifs, of piton des neiges , of piton de la fournaise. however, sommet meant original version neither of these 2 peaks. rather, grand bénare meant: when expression devised, far more familiar settlers.

at time, in fact, neither of former 2 peaks had been approached. according bory de saint-vincent, first ascent of island s active volcano (de la fournaise) came in mid-18th century, while of extinct volcano (des neiges) came later. expression dates beginnings of island s colonisation, century earlier.