THE BLACK CARIBS. 313 



elevated 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. From this mountain 

 descended many a limped stream and rapid river, which, passing 

 through the plain, set in motion the various sugar-mills, and fertilized 

 the land. The surface of this mountain bore various marks of its 

 volcanic formation ; yet, notwithstanding the lava, sulphur, and fused 

 metal every where discernible on its soil, the powerful influence of 

 tropical heat and moisture had clothed it with beautiful vegetation. 

 The toil of the planter was every where visible. The apparently 

 sterile surface was shaded by luxuriant and gigantic forest trees. The 

 crater was about half a mile in diameter, and 500 feet in depth. In 

 the centre of this gulf rose a conical hill to the height of 300 feet. 

 Notwithstanding the upper part of this elevation was strewed with 

 virgin sulphur, and that from some fissures on its top issued a thin, 

 white smoke, which at night seemed tinged with azure flame; yet 

 both the cone and the inside of the huge basin were beautifully gar- 

 nished with a countless variety of dwarf-trees, brush-wood, vines, 

 and aromatic shrubs. The Maroon parties, in the habit of visiting the 

 crater, frequfhtly bathed in two small lakes situated at the foot of the 

 cone; one was of pure water, the other was strongly impregnated with 

 sulphur, and supposed to possess medicinal qualities. 



The whole appearance of the souffriere indicated that at some pe- 

 riod it had been terribly convulsed ; yet neither the aborigines, nor 

 the Black Caribs, have preserved any tradition of such an event. 



When Rosetta left Belgrave, and on her road homewards, she felt 

 a violent trembling of the earth ; in alarm she hastened towards her 

 house ; but ere she gained it, the subterraneous concussion increased 

 most awfully, and was accompanied with that rumbling noise which 

 usually attends earthquakes. Terribly appalled, she relinquished 

 the rein, yet, although her horse was was within a few yards of his 

 stable, he would not proceed, but laid his ears on his neck, bristled 

 his mane, trembled violently, threw himself back upon his haunches, 

 extended his nostrils, and, with eyes gleaming with the frenzy of af- 

 right, looked towards the top of the mountain. Rosetta looked toward 

 the volcano, when she beheld such immense volumes of dense black 

 smoke bursting from the top of the souffriere, that the atmosphere 

 was darkened. She shrieked; when, in an instant, she was lifted from 

 off her saddle by the faithful Mustapha, and conveyed into the 

 house. 



The crater now threw up millions of tons of grey sand, which de- 

 scended like a rain-storm on every part of the island, until it was 

 covered with a sombre livery. The colony had an indescribable 

 appearance ; the green smiling landscapes were instantly changed, 

 as though by an enchanted wand. For three days this sand-shower 

 continued and increased, until every particle of vegetation was in- 

 crusted with it. On the third day at noon, the smoky column took 

 a red hue, and burst forth with a dreadful force ; the clouds which 

 issued forth almost eclipsed the sun its rays were superseded by the 

 sheets of flame which illumined the atmosphere with the sanguine 

 glare of Tartarus. The island and all on it, animate and inanimate, 

 " shook like a coward." The air was strongly impregnated with a 

 sulphureous odour ; the volcano roared with a deafening sound ; 

 as the imder-notes of this awful concert, were mingled the 



