6S Description of the Eruption of Sovffrier Movntam. 



between 4 and 300 feet in depth : exactly in the centre of 

 this oapaci)ns bo-vl rose a conical hill about 260 or 300 

 feet in height, and abont 200 in diameter, richly covered 

 and variegated with shrubs, brushwood, and vines, above 

 half wav np, and for the remainder powdered over with vir- 

 gin sulphur to ihe top. From the fissures in the cone and 

 interstices of the rocks a thin white smoke was constantly 

 cniiited, occasionally tinged with a slight blueish flame. 

 The precipitous sides of this mai.';nificent amphitheatre were 

 fringed vvith vari()ns evergreens and aro'.natic shrubs, flowers, 

 and many alpine plants. On the north and south sides of 

 the base of the cone were two pieces of water, one perfectly 

 pure and tasteless, ihe other strongly impreijnated with 

 sui,)hur and alum. This lonclv and beautiful spot was 

 rendered more enchanting by the singularly melodious 

 notes of a bird, an inhabitant of these upper solitudes, and 

 aliogelher unknown to the other parts of the island : hence 

 ])riiicipallv called, or supposed to be, invisilile; though il 

 certainly has been seen, and is a species of the merle. 



A centurv had now elapsed since the last convulsion of 

 the mountain, or since any other elements had disturbed 

 the serenity of this wilderness than those which are common 

 to the tropical tempest. it apparently slumbered in 

 primeval solitude and tranquillitv, and from the luxuriant 

 vesetation and growth of the forest, which covered its sides 

 from the l)a>e nearly to the summit, seemed to discoun- 

 tenance the faetj'and falsify the records of the ancient vol- 

 cano. Such was the majestic, peaceful SoufTrier on April 

 the i'Tth ; but we trod on " ignem repositum cineri doloso," 

 and our imaginary safety was soon to be confounded by 

 the sudden danger of devastation. Just as the plantation 

 bells rang twelve at noon on Monday the 27lh, an abrupt 

 and dreadful crash from the nh)untain, with a severe con- 

 cussion of the earth, and tremulous noise in the air, alarmed 

 all arouiul it. The resurrection of this fierv furnace was 

 proclaimed in a moment by a vast column of thick black 

 ropv smoke, like that of an immense class house, bursting 

 forth at once and mounting to the sky, showering down 

 sand, w.th gritty calcined particles of eaith and favilla 

 mixed, on all below. This driven beff)re the wind towards 

 Wallibon and Morne Ronde, darkened the air like a cata- 

 ract of rain, and covered the riiL^.s, woods, and cane-pieces 

 with hcht crax'-'Coloured ashes, refcmbling snow when 

 slitihlly covered bv dust. As the eruption increased, this 

 continual shower expanded, destrovina every appearance 

 of vegetation.- At night a very considerable degree of ig» 



niti'on 



