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extremely slow. It is much more probable that it emerged 
through fissures or small craters scattered along the base of 
the mountain. In one cliff whence a mass of lava had been 
recently detached, I numbered, in a diameter of six feet, 
eight distinct layers, perfectly consolidated, bnt readily 
recognised as the result of successive appositions, by the 
compactness of the lower side of each layer, and the porosity 
of the upper. 
“In the eruption which took place last year, the lava 
descended close by the Rempart de Bois Blanc, and reached 
as far as the sea-shore. This lava is of a quite different 
character from that which incrusts the greater part of the 
Pays brûlé. It appears as a huge rampart or ridge, five 
hundred yards at least in diameter, and thirty or forty in 
height, consisting of a vast accumulation of stony fragments, 
firmly consolidated, but still retaining their respective forms; 
thus proving that they had not undergone complete fusion, 
but been merely so far liquified on the surface as to enable 
them to slide over each other in their descent; nor is it 
unlikely that the greater part of them had previously covered 
the declivity of the mountain, and thence floated down in 
the stream, which now acts as the bond of union between 
them. 
“On casting my eyes over the Pays brûlé, I was irresistibly 
struck with the idea that it must have sunk at some remote 
period from the level of the ramparts by which it is flanked. 
These ramparts are on the general level of the country 
behind, and terminate in a bold elevated coast. This line 
suddenly breaks off, and we have a tract of country, SIX 
miles over, sunk more than one hundred fathoms below the 
level of the ramparts, with a coast of only a few fathoms 
above the level of the sea, and that apparently formed by 
recent accretions of lava. "The volcano is surrounded be 
by à semicircular rampart called *l'enclos, which connects 
the other ramparts; thus enclosing the mountain and 
Pays brûlé within them. ‘The inference from these appe" 
ences is hardly avoidable, that the latter have sunk at least 
one hundred fathoms from their former level. In confirma- 
