234 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



an eruption. This is true, for the very plain reason that the volcano 

 is the source of danger. When it approaches extinction the quiet is 

 of longer and longer continuance ; and aa it dies out, a region once 

 tottering on subterranean fires may finally enjoy the firm stability of 

 lands that have never been favored with such " safety-valves." 



VOLCANO IN NEW GRENADA. 



"You will see upon my map of New Grenada, in latitude 10 50', 

 longitude 78 [from Paris?] a place marked volcano. I placed it 

 there because it was found on ancient maps, but I had my doubts of 

 its existence. I have just returned from visiting it, and have been 

 astonished by the phenomena there exhibited. The cape or promon- 

 tory of Galera-Zamba formerly extended into the sea without interrup- 

 tion to the island of Enea, which formed its extremity. One could 

 then travel three or four leagues by land, and in less than an hour 

 after leaving the coast he saw a conical peak, which was a true 

 volcano terminated by a crater, from which gas escaped with suf- 

 ficient force to hurl into the air wood thrown into it. The volcano 

 from time to time sent forth smoke, which rendered it an object of 

 fear to the inhabitants, who dared not approach it. About ten years 

 ago, after an eruption accompanied with flames, the earth gradually 

 subsided, and the peninsula of Galera-Zamba became an island, so 

 that coasting vessels passed through the opening left, which was found 

 to be eight or ten metres* deep. This was the state of things at the 

 beginning of October, 1848. On October 7, 1848, about two o'clock 

 in the morning, a noise was heard which increased rapidly, and at 

 once there issued from the sea in the place of the old volcano, a lumi- 

 nous sheaf, which lighted up the country for thirty leagues on all 

 sides. No showers of ashes were observed, nor was any earthquake 

 felt during this eruption, which lasted several days, but with a de- 

 creasing intensity. Some days after the eruption, an island covered 

 with sand was observed in the spot where the volcano had been. No 

 one dared to land upon it, and in a few weeks it subsided. Fish are 

 now taken within the ancient crater, showing that there are no de- 

 structive exhalations at present. Thus we must add another volcano 

 to the list of the active ones, for the volcano of Zamba, which has 

 given signs of activity within twelve months, cannot be considered 

 extinct." Col. Acosta, in the Comptes Rendus, Nov. 20. 



ERUPTION OF A VOLCANO IN JAVA. 



A LETTER from Batavia (Java), of the 26th of September, gives some 

 account of a late eruption of Mount Merapia, a volcano in the district 

 of Kadoe, believed to be extinct. The eruption began on the morn- 

 ing of the 14th of September, during a violent hurricane, and lasted 

 until the evening of the 17th, that is to say, more than three days. 

 The mountain vomited forth gigantic flames and large quantities of 



* A metre equals 39.37 inches. 



