WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 267 



greater quantities of flame and ashes, and at others die down ; for, as 

 I myself have noted and considered in the case of some where it 

 happened that they were in eruption and then seemed to have finished 

 and used up all their material or the sulfur deposits, since they did 

 not throw out flame as they did usually in the past, it is evident 

 from other indications that they keep the fire deep within, since 

 even when the fire seems to have stopped, springs of boiling water 

 and other manifestations issue forth from such regions, as I observed 

 in the case of the volcano of the Province of Cuzcatlan. Thus it is 

 clearly and demonstrably proved that the fire exists ; and even though 

 the center of the earth is so remote. Divine Providence and Plan 

 has so ordained and disposed matters that man shall thus be vividly 

 warned and reminded that in everything he should serve, please, and 

 praise his Creator. May this account suffice for a superficial dis- 

 cussion of the subject of volcanoes ; now let us return to Mexico City, 

 500 leagues NW. of Costa Rica, and then travel 70 leagues from 

 there to the port of Acapulco, which is the point of departure for 

 the voyage to the Philippines. 



