160 
before the Club certain volcanoes which may be typical, and 
then we shall be able to draw our own conclusions, and realize 
what volcanic action is. 
First, I will take Stromboli which, as I have stated, is the 
one remaining active volcano of the Lipari Islands. It is 
remarkable for the fact that it has been in a state of constant 
activity for at least 1,000 years. The activity, however, is not 
of that violent nature which distinguishes those volcanoes 
which relapse into a state of inactivity for a period and then 
burst into violent activity. The crater of Stromboli may, with 
proper precautions, be approached and the action which goes 
on studied. On looking into the crater the lava is seen cooled 
on the surface, and consequently a crust is formed which hides 
from view the fused lava underneath. The action consists of 
the bursting forth of steam which rises high into the atmos- 
phere and forms a cloud over the mountain. The steam is 
ejected through cracks in the crust, and when the lava is semi- 
liquid a “gigantic* bubble is formed which violently bursts, 
when a great rush of steam takes place, carrying fragments of 
the scum-like surface of the liquid high into the atmosphere.” 
At night, every time the bubble bursts, and exposes the hot 
lava, the vapour cloud, caused by the steam, is illuminated. 
We often read of volcanic eruptions being accompanied by 
flames which have been described in thrilling language. As a 
matter of fact volcanoes do not emit flames except, perhaps, 
by the ignition of sulphuretted hydrogen and other gases which 
possess low illuminating power. The apparent flashes of fire 
and burning have, most probably, been due to the glare of the 
fused lava in the crater. Now the point to be here noticed is 
that the action going on in the crater of Stromboli is due to 
the escape of water in the form of steam. This steam rises 
through the lava and finds escape through the crust on the 
surface. 
I will now pass to the Islands of Hawaii, formerly known 
as the Sandwich Islands. They are situated in the Pacific 
Ocean, about 2,000 miles distant from San Francisco. They 
* Judd’s Volcanoes, p. 16, 1881. 
