PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OF THE ISLANDS. 7 



of short scrub in the vicinity burnt and killed. Twenty years 

 before there is a record of an eruption. 



The following is a record of volcanic activity of the Kurils, but 

 there have undoubtedly been many other eruptions in modern 

 times, of which no account has been taken : — 



Alaid. — In 1770 it was smoking, and in 1793 it was in violent eruption. It is 



now dormant or extinct. 

 Paramusliir. — According to A. Postels,* Fuss Peak and the volcano at the north 



end of the island were active in 1737, 1742, and 1793. A small quantity 



of steam is now given off from the volcano at the north end, but all the 



others are dormant or extinct. 

 Shirinki. — Described by Herman as active. No signs of activity have been 



shown during the past fourteen years. 

 Onehotan. — The volcano (Mount Blakiston) on the south end of the island 



described by Herman as being active. There is at present no active volcano 



on this island. 

 Kharimhotan, — Landgrebe and Herman speak of this being active. There are 



no signs of activity at this island now. 

 Shiashkotan. — Erupted in 1855. Both the volcanoes on this island are giving 



off much steam. 

 Ekarma. — Pallas describes flames as issuing from this at times. It is now 



dormant, but the warm springs at its base indicate that it has still the 



necessary element to become active again. 

 Chirinkotan. — Pallas describes this as active, lava and st( nes being occasionally 



thrown out. This answers to its present condition. 

 Jiaikoke. — In violent eruption in 1778 and 1780. It is now extinct or 



dormant, 

 Matau. — Described by Pallas as throwing out stones and lava. Steam now 



issues from this mountain, and occasionally a small stream of lava. 

 Rashmi. — Steam issues from an old crater on the east side of the island. 

 Ushishir, — From fumeroles surrounded by a deposit of sulphurous earth inside 



the crater, steam is given off. 

 Ketoi. — Two volcanoes are at present steaming on this island. Violent eruption 



in 1843. 

 Simushir. — Only the small volcanic peak on the north-west side of the Milne 



Mountain group is now active. It was in violent eruption in September, 



1881. The other volcanoes on the island do not show signs of any activity 



in very recent times. 

 Black Brothers (Brat Chirnoi), — The northern island is described by Krusenstern 



and Pallas as active. Steam issues from two peaks on this island, and 



periodically they show signs of considerably increased activity. Violent 



eruptions took place in 1879 (May-June), 

 Untp has two volcanoes, from which steam has steadily issued for the past 



fourteen years. 



* References to Postels, Herman, Pallas, etc., are taken from ' Documents sur Ics 

 Tremblements de Terre I'Archipel des Kouriles,' etc., par M. Alexis Perrcy. 1S6P.. 



