294 Voyage of the Novara. 



Rosemond, bad told him of shocks, comparatively slight it is 

 true, which he (Rosemond) had felt during his several years' 

 abode here. Considering the small circumference of the 

 island, and the violent surf on its shores, slight oscillations 

 may not improbably be felt, which are caused by other than 

 volcanic agencies. Moreover, on the outer margin of the crater- 

 basin, the island presents at those numerous points, from which 

 at ebb-tide roll volumes of smoke and steam, so many natural 

 vents for the escape of the confined subterraneous gases, that 

 in their ordinary state, and so long as they continue open, 

 in future, there is no especial reason to suppose there will 

 be any upheavings of the earth's crust in consequence of 

 volcanic agencies. The earthquake of 14th August, 1857, 

 which was pretty severely felt in Cape Town and the vicinity, 

 does not seem to have included St. Paul within the circle of its 

 influence. The present inhabitants of St. Paul, at all events, 

 unanimously assert that they cannot recal having perceived, 

 either on the 14th August, or at any time about that period, 

 any shocks of earthquake whatever, or to have observed any 

 unusual appearances either in the surface of the earth or in 

 the atmosphere. 



We purposely say " at any time about that period," because 

 the inhabitants of the island do not avail themselves of that 

 assistance so universal now-a-days of a printed calendar, 

 but trust to memory for keeping a reckoning of the flight 

 of time. That mistakes should frequently occur with such 

 a method of computing time is rendered the more probable 



