368 On the Nero Insular Volcano, named Hotluivi Island. 



thirty miles by the reckoning, I saw flashes of brilliant light 

 mingled with the smoke, which was still distinctly visible by the 

 light of the moon. 



" In a few minutes the whole column became black and lar- 

 ger ; almost immediately afterwards several successive eruptions 

 of lurid fire rose up amidst the smoke ; they subsided, and the 

 column then became gradually white again. As we seemed to 

 near it fast, I shortened sail and hove-to till daylight, that I 

 might ascertain its nature and exact position. During the night 

 the changes from white to black with flashes, and the eruption 

 of fire, continued at irregular intervals, varying from half an 

 hour to an hour. At daylight I again steered towards it, and 

 about 5 A. M., when the smoke had for a moment cleared 

 away at the base, I saw a small hillock of a dark colour a few 

 feet above the sea. This was soon hidden again, and was only 

 visible through the smoke at the intervals between the more 

 violent eruptions. 



" The volcano was in a constant state of activity, and ap- 

 peared to be discharging dust and stones, with vast volumes 

 of steam. At 1^ 30"" the rushing noise of the eruptions was 

 heard. At 9, being distant from it about two miles, and the 

 water being much discoloured with dark objects at the sur- 

 face in various places, I hove to, and went in a boat to sound 

 round and examine it. I rowed towards it, keeping on the 

 weather-side, and sounding, but got no bottom till within 20 

 yards of the western side, where I had 18 fathoms soft bottom ; 

 this was the only sounding obtained, except from the brig, one 

 mile true north from the centre of the island, where the depth 

 was 130 fathoms sqft darh brown mud. The crater (for it was 

 now evident that such was its form) seemed to be composed of 

 fine cinders and mud of a darlc brown colour ; within it was to 

 be seen, in the intervals between the eruptions, a mixture of 

 muddy Avater, steam, and cinders dashing up and down, and oc- 

 casionally running into the sea, over the edge of the crater, 

 which I found, on rowing round, to be broken down to the level 

 of the sea, on the W.S.W, side, for the space of 10 or 12 yards. 

 Here I obtained a better view of the interior, which appeared to 

 be filled with muddy, water, violently agitated, from which 

 showers of hot stones or cinders Avere constantly shooting up a 



