66 Prof. Bischof on the Natural History of 



raised. These islands, therefore, form an inseparable whole, 

 and cannot liave been raised one after another. On the other 

 hand, history and tradition inform us, that nature has never 

 ceased in its endeavours to create a volcano in the centre 

 of this crater of elevation. 184 years before the birth of 

 Christ, the Island of Hiera (now called Palaia Kameni),^ was 

 formed, and since that, as it seems, many other rocks have 

 been raised in its centre. In 1427, this island was increased. 

 In 1573, the Little Kameni was thrown up, exactly in the 

 centre of the basin, accompanied with an ejection of steam 

 and pumice; and between 1707 and 1709, was raised the Nezo 

 Kameni, which still continues to send forth sulphurous vapours. t 

 Lastly, in the present moment another new island seems to 

 be about to appear to the east of Kameni^ about 900 feet from 

 the coast of Santorin, according to the report of a naval of- 

 ficer of Santorin^X {Nauplia, 4th December 1834). The in- 

 habitants of the island assert, that thirty years ago this bank 

 lay at the depth of 90 feet ; in 1820, it was only 60 feet below 

 the surface ; and at present the sea is only 20 feet deep over 

 it. According to later accounts given in the public journals, 

 this bank continues to rise so rapidly, that if it meet with no 

 interruption in its progress, it will, by the year 1840, be able 

 to lay claim to the denomination of an island. In the year 

 1713, it is said an island arose among the small islands near 

 Venice^ accompanied with flames, smoke, and the most vehement 

 shocks. This phenomenon, which continued four weeks, drove 

 away the inhabitants from the adjacent islands. After about 

 two years a similar occurrence was repeated, and a second 

 island was thrown up under the same circumstances. These 

 two islands are now, as the neighbouring ones, inhabited and 

 cultivated.il 



* Von HofF, Geschichte der natiirlichen Veranderungen der Erdober- 

 fldche, t. ii. p. 137. For an account of some crater-shaped islands, see Pog- 

 gendorfF's Annal. v. xxiv. p. 101. 



t See the account of Fatlier Bourignon in Raspe's specimen, &c. de novis 

 e mare natis insulis 1763, p. 48. 



:;: Allgenieines Organ fur Handel und Gewerbe &c. No. 23. 1835; and 

 Jameson's Phil. Journal, vol. xxi. p. 175. 



11 Justi's Geschichte des Erdkorpers, p. 135. 



