110 CONCLUSION OF THE VOYAGE. 



hig-hest part of the island. At an elevation of a 

 little more than 3000 feet^ we reached the ridge 

 forming- the marg-in of a circular crater^ rather 

 more than a mile in diameter^ and 700 feet deep. 

 The outer slope is g-radual^ but the inner walls 

 are steep^ deeply furrowed b}^ small ravines and 

 watercourses^ and covered with g-rass^ fern and 

 heath-like bushes. The bottom contains a con- 

 siderable extent of swampy meadow land^ a 

 shallow lag"oon^ and a small hill with a crater also 

 partially filled with water. The view here is 

 mag-nificent, enhanced^ too^ at times by the rolling* 

 volumes of mist overhead, at one moment admitting- 

 of a peep at the blue sk}^ above, in the next 

 concealing* the rim of the crater and increasing- in 

 idea the heig'ht of its wall-like sides. The caldeira, 

 I may add in conclusion, is said to have been formed 

 during" the last eruption of Fayal in 1672, but this 

 statement appears to be ver}" doubtful. 



We resumed our homeward vo3^ag"e on October 

 5th, and on November 9th, the Rattlesnake was 

 paid off at Chatham, after having- been in commis- 

 sion upwards of four years. 



