THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 331 



a latitude, may be accounted for, from its being fituated to ■779- 



° October. 



the Eaft of an immenfe uncultivated tract of country, and 

 from the prevalence of the Wefterly winds, blowing over fo 

 extenfive and cold a continent. The extraordinary violence 

 and impetuofity of the winds, is attributed to the fubterra- 

 neous fires, the fulphureous exhalations, and the general 

 volcanic difpofition of the country. 



This peninfula abounds in vo/canos, of which only three 

 have, for fome time paft, been fubject to eruptions. We 

 have already mentioned that which is fituated in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Awatfka. Befides this, there are others not 

 lefs remarkable, according to the account given of them by 

 KrafcheninicofF. 



The volcano of Tolbatchick is fituated on a neck of ground 

 between the River of Kamtfchatka and Tolbatchick. The 

 mountain, from the fummit of which the eruptions pro- 

 ceed, is of a confiderable height, and terminates in pointed 

 rocks. In the beginning of the year 1739, there ifiued from 

 it a whirlwind of flames, which reduced to aibes the forefts 

 of the neighbouring mountains. This was fucceeded by a 

 cloud of fmoke, which fpread over, and darkened the whole 

 country, till it was diflipated by a mower of cinders, that 

 covered the ground to the diftance of thirty miles. Mr. 

 KrafcheninicofF, who was at this time on a journey from 

 Bolchoireka to the Kamtfchatka cjlrog, at no great diftance 

 from the mountain, relates, that the eruption was preceded 

 by an alarming found in the woods, which he thought the 

 forerunner of fome dreadful florm or hurricane, till three 

 fhocks of an earthquake, at about a minute's interval each, 

 convinced him of its real caufe ; but that he was hin- 

 dered from approaching nearer the mountain, by the cin- 



U u 2 ders 



