258 A Geological and Geographical Sketch 



an avemge angle of not more than 18 or 20 degrees from the per- 

 pendicular, consequently, persons descending are often obliged 

 to let themselves down by clinging to projecting corners of 

 rocks, or the branches and roots of shrubs, which grow all the 

 way down ; nor is this mode of travelUng particularly safe, for 

 should any of these give way, the consequence would probably 

 be highly dangerous. The bottom of the crater, which, as 

 nearly as I could estimate, is about 2500 feet below the sum- 

 mit of the mountain, and contains about forty-five, or fifty 

 acres, may be said to be divided into three parts : the lowest 

 side (to the south) consists of a large pond or lake, formed 

 entirely by the rain-water collected from the sides of the crater — 

 accordingly its extent is greater or less, as the season is wet or 

 dry ; the centre part is covered with small ferns, palms, and 

 shrubs, and some curious species of moss ; the upper part, 

 to the north, is that which is called the Soufriere. The 

 ground here consists of large beds of pipe-clay, in some 

 places perfectly white, in others of a bluish or black colour, 

 from the presence of iron pyrites. These are intermixed with 

 masses and irregular beds of grey cinders and scoriae, pumice, 

 various kinds of lava, lithomarge, and fuller's earth. Amidst 

 these beds of clay, there are several hot springs, small, but boil- 

 ing with much violence, and emitting large quantities of steam. 

 A rumbling noise is heard under the whole of this part of the 

 crater. The hot springs are not stationary, but suddenly dis- 

 appear, and burst up in another place. The ground in many 

 parts is too hot to be walked upon : a great quantity of sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen gas is likewise emitted, which is exceed- 

 ingly disagreeable to the smell ; and occasionally such a volume 

 of it arises, as is almost suffocating, and resembles much the 

 smell of rotten eggs. The watches of the author and his com- 

 panion during his visit, and every article of gold or silver 

 about their persons, were in a few moments turned perfectly 

 black, from the effect of this gas. 



The water from the springs is strongly impregnated with the 

 sulphates of alumine and iron ; it is, indeed, almost a satu- 

 rated solution of them. In every direction about these springs, 

 pure sulphur is crystallized in minute but beautiful crystals on 



