$08 
swept the earth lighted up a little. The 
mouth of it was only about fifty yards im cir- 
cumference 3 the fire seemed sttuggling for 
vent; the force with which a pale blue fame 
issued forth, resembled a powerful steam-en- 
gine, multiplied a hundred fold; the noise 
was deafening; the earth where we stood had 
a tremulous motion, the whole island seemed 
eonyulsed, horrid bellowings were occasion- 
ally heard from the bowels of the earth, and 
earthquakes were frequent. After remain- 
ing here about ten minutes, we returned to 
town; the inhabitants had mostly quitted 
their houses, and remained in the open air, 
er under tents, We passed the night at Vel- 
jas, and the next morning went by water to 
Ursulina, a small sea-port town, two leagues 
south of Vellas, and viewed that part of the 
country covered with the cinders before-men- 
tioned, and which has turned the most valu- 
able vineyards in the island into a frightful 
desert. On the same day (the 4th of May) 
we returned to Fayal, and on the 5th and 
succeeding days, from twelve to fifteen small 
volcanos broke out in the fields we bad tra- 
versed onthe 3d, from the chasms before de- 
scribed, and threw out a quantity of lava, 
which travelled on slowly towards Vellas. 
The fire of those small craters subsided, and 
ahe Java ceased running about the 11th of 
May ; 0n which day the large volcano, that 
bad Jain dormant for nine days, burst forth 
again like a roaring lion, with horrid belch- 
jngs, distinctly heard at twelve leagues dis- 
tance, throwing up prodigious large stones, 
and an immense quantity of lava, illuminat- 
jng at night the whole island. This conti- 
gued with tremendous force until the 5th of 
june, exhibiting the awful yet magnificent 
spectacle of a perfect river of fire (distinct- 
Jy seen from Fayal) running into the sea. 
On that day (the 5th) we experienced 
shat its force began to fail, and, in'a few 
days after, it ceased entirely. The distance 
ef the crater from the sea is about four 
miles, and its elevation about 3,500 feet. 
The lava inundated and swept away the 
gown of Ursulina, and country-houses and 
cottages adjacent, as well as the farm-houses, 
throughout its course. It, as usual, gave 
timely notice of its approach, and most of the 
inhabitants fled ; some few, however, remain- 
ad in the vicinity of it too long, endeavour- 
jnz to save their furniture and effects, 
were scalded by flashes of steam, which, 
without injuring their clothes, took off not 
enly their skin but their flesh, About sixty 
persons were thus miserably scalded, some of 
bom died on the spot, or in a few days after. 
Numbers of cattle shared the same fate. The 
judge and principal inhabitants Jeft the island 
very early: The consternation and anxicty 
were for some days so great among the people, 
that even their domestic concerns were aban- 
doned, and, amidst plenty, they were in dan- 
ger of starving. Supplise of yeady-baked 
Literary and Philosophical InteHigence. 
[Nov. 1, 
bread were sent from hence to their relief, 
and large boats to bring away the inha- 
bitants who had lost their dwellings: In 
short, the island, heretofore rich in cattle, 
cern, and wine, is nearly ruined; and a scene 
of greater desolation and distress has seldom 
been witneseed in any country.” 
EAST INDIES. 
The Honorable the Governor of Ma- 
dras in council, has resolved -that a re- 
ward of 5000 star pagodas or 2000I, shall 
be paid to any commander of a British 
vessel, who may import alive at Ma- 
dras the genuine cochineal insect, the 
growth of South America. The follows 
ing description of the species of insect, 
for which this reward will be paid, and 
of the mode recommended to be pursued 
for the accomplishment of this object, is 
published for general information. There 
is a distinction in trade of four kinds, 
yiz. Mestique, Compreschane, Yetrus- 
chaie and Sylvester, of which the first is 
accounted the best and the last the worst. 
The three first derive their names from 
the situation of their produces the last 
is found wild, and though perhaps supe- 
rior to the spurious insect procured in 
the East Indies, is not considered as a 
desideratum. If either of the other three 
kinds above specified could be procured, 
it is suggested that the live insect may be 
preserved on the plant, during the voy- 
age to Madras; but as the success of 
this experiment on a sea voyage must be 
precarious, every other practicable mode 
that could be devised, should be attempt-~ 
ed for the purpose. ‘The following is un- 
derstood to be the mode practised by the 
Spaniards, for preserving the insect, 
while propagating its species, or deposi- 
ting its eges, The insects destined for 
this purpose, are taken at a proper time 
of the growth, put intoa box well closed, 
and lined with coarse cloth ; in this con- 
finement they deposit their eggs and die, 
The box is kept close shut till the time 
of placing the eggs on the nopal. The. 
animalcule are so minute, as to be 
scarcely perceptible. They are put on 
the tree in May or June, and in two 
months attain to. the size of a dogrtick. 
The mode of preserving the insect on the 
plant, should however also be attempted, 
especially as there is reason to doubt, 
whether that on which the Spanish coc- 
cus feeds, be the same with the nopal 
andersoniana. 
The committee for the improvement 
of Calcutta, have resolved to construct. 
a canal commencing opposite to the 
head of Durruntollah-stwweet, on the 
eastera 
