446 Account of some Volcanic Eimptions, S^c, [Dec. 



resembled a thick smoke. The latter phaenomenon ceased in a 

 few days. 



On the 6th of the second month, there was an eruption of the 

 volcano of Bivo-no-koubi, about half a league from its summit. 

 Th© flames ascended to a great height; the lava which ran 

 down spread with rapidity at the foot of the mountain, and in a 

 few days the whole country, for several miles round, was in 

 flames. The fire consumed all the trees on the neighbouring 

 heights, and the valley, in which it made the greatest havoc, 

 was soon covered with relics of burnt matter, and filled with 

 stones and ashes. The fire was not like ordinary fire ; it was 

 sparkling and of a reddish colour, interrupted from time to time 

 by brown blazes. On the 1st of the third month, at ten o'clock 

 at night, a tremendous earthquake was felt throughout the whole 

 island of Kiou-siou,* but particularly in the province of Sima- 

 bara. The first shock was so violent that people could scarcely 

 keep on their legs ; they were seized at the same time with a 

 complete stupefaction, so that they had scarcely presence of 

 mind to provide for their personal safety. Immense rocks were 

 precipitated from the mountain ; the earth opened, the houses 

 were shaken with such force, that the inhabitants durst not stay 

 in them for fear of being crushed in the ruins. Neither could 

 they venture to stop any where, from apprehension of the inun- 

 dation which usually follows a violent earthquake; and the 

 recollection of what had happened some years before in Sinano, 

 as already related in the proper place, heightened the terror of 

 the inhabitants. Carrying the sick and the children in their 

 arms, they set out in troops in quest of some place of refuge 

 from a similar calamity. Nothing was to be heard but cries, 

 lamentations, and fervent prayers imploring the protection of 

 heaven. The shocks having ceased, in a few hours they returned 

 to their homes. Some houses were demolished, and their 

 inmates buried in the ruins ; but fortunately the mischief was 

 not so great as had been feared. 



The mountain meanwhile continued burning, and the lava 

 spread obliquely towards the castle ; but being stopped in its 

 course by a great number of rocks, it turned slowly to the north. 

 The inhabitants were in terrible alarm, because the shocks were 

 incessantly recurring, though with less violence than at first. 



On the 1st of the fourth month, about noon, when every body 

 was at dinner, a fresh shock was felt with a motion which lasted 

 upwards of an hour and a half, and became more and more 

 violent, threatening all around with instant destruction. It was 

 not long before several houses beyond the castle were ingulphed 

 with their inhabitants, which seemed to be the signal for the 

 most dreadful disasters. The cries of men and animals aggra- 



• Kiou-siou, or Kidjo (the nine provinces) is thus named on account of its division 

 into nine provinces. It is the second in extent and the westernmost of the islands 

 composing the empire of Japan. 



