AN INTERESTING COUNTRY. 9 



tains, called Kamtschatka Mountain, rivalling 

 in height the loftiest in the world, often vomits 

 forth streams of lava on the surrounding coun- 

 try. These mountains with their glaciers, and 

 volcanoes emitting columns of fire and smoke 

 from amidst fields of ice, afford a picturesque 

 contrast with the beautiful green of the valleys. 

 The most singular and indescribably-splendid 

 effect is produced by the crystal rocks on the 

 western coast, when illuminated by the sun ; 

 their whole refulgent surface reflecting his rays 

 in every various tint of the most brilliant co- 

 lours, resembles the diamond mountains of 

 fairy-land, while the neighbouriug rocks of 

 quartz shine like masses of solid gold. 



Kamtschatka is a most interesting country to 

 the professor of the natural sciences. Great 

 mineral treasures will certainly be one day dis- 

 covered here ; the number and diversity of its 

 stones is striking even to the most uninitiated. 

 It abounds in hot and salutary springs. To 

 the botanist it offers great varieties of plants, 

 little if at all known ; and the zoologist would 

 find here, amongst the animal tribes deserving 

 his attention, besides several kinds of bears, 

 b5 



