[en] A ruby-laser double-exposure holographic interferometer was used to study the interaction of a theta-pinch-generated, hot, dense-plasma column (T/sub e/+T/sub i/ approx.2--3 keV, napprox.10¹⁶ cm^-3) with solid end plugs inserted to eliminate axial loss of plasma. Radial density profiles showing a peak density on axis of greater than 10¹⁸ cm^-3 near the plug surface were obtained by Abel inversion of the interferograms. Interferograms showed substantial differences in the density profiles for different plug materials. Strong absorption of the laser light by the Stark-broadened Nii line at 6942 A was used to estimate the ablated plasma temperature