310 EKUPTION OF THE SOUFRIERE IN ST. VINCENT. 



did everything in their power to forward our work in every way. In 

 Martinique the governor of the island gave us every facilit}^ for con- 

 ducting our scientific investigations. In this brief preliminary report 

 it is impossible for us to mention by name even a small proportion of 

 those who, often at considerable inconvenience to themselves, lightened 

 our labors by their kind provision and forethought. In every place 

 we visited we found friends who Avere willing to direct, assist, and 

 accompany us; and without their help it would often have lieen impos- 

 sible for us to make satisfactory arrangements or to accomplish our 

 work. In this way what might have been a very arduous undertaking 

 was greatly lightened, and we wish to place on record our deep 

 indebtedness to our many kind friends in the Windward and Leeward 

 islands. 



The island of 8t. Vincent is of oval form, 18 miles ]\y 11 miles, the 

 longer diameter being nearly north and south. A mountain chain 

 stretches along the main axis of the island and reaches to a height of 

 2,000 to 1,000 feet, the highest point being just over 1,000. It is 

 entirely composed of volcanic materials, the beds of lava and tutf dip- 

 ping away in all directions from the central mass toward the sea. In 

 the southern part of the islantl volcanic action has long l)een extinct 

 or dormant, l)ut at the northern end stands the still active Souf riere, 

 a striking volcanic cone 1,018 feet in height, with a crater nearly cir- 

 cular in form and about 1 mile in diameter. Along the leeward side 

 of the island very fine sections are exposed, and these show it to con- 

 sist of volcanic rocks, of which by far the commonest is a coarse ande- 

 sitic agglomerate or tuft', though there are many lava streams which 

 may be traced as vertical cliffs along the valley sides, alternating \\ ith 

 the gentler slopes due to the thick beds of ash. The scenery is bold 

 and picturesque, the heav}' tropical rains acting on steep slopes having 

 effected rapid and intense erosion. As a consequence, deep valle3^s 

 radiate out from the central ridge, separated })y high, narrow spurs 

 running down to the sea. On the windward side, below the level of 

 700 feet above the sea, there are considerable stretches of flat or gentl}^ 

 sloping ground on which stand many of the most important arrowroot 

 and sugar estates. The first glance at these lower grounds suffices to 

 show that they are very distinct in configuration from the highly eroded 

 and deeply sculptured uplands, and further investigation reveals the 

 presence of more or less well-marked l)eaches or terraces — a system of 

 old sea beaches or rock platforms partly obliterated ])ysubaerial ero- 

 sions and in some places covered with debris. On both sides the sub- 

 marine slopes are steep, but most so on the leevvai'd coast, as on the 

 east or windward side there is a considerable expanse of shallow water 

 in which a sul)merged terrace at a depth of 150 feet can be traced b}' 

 means of soundings, as indicated on the charts. There are no raised 

 coral beaches here, as in some of the other islands, and the latest move- 

 ments of the land have probably been in a downward direction. 



