Some Accoiint of the Island of Teneriffe. 257 



milar to that of the other islands, became visible to the naked 

 eve. The cold at this time was intense^ the wind keen and 

 strong, and the ther;nometer sunk to .32 degrees : after a short 

 thougli rapid ascent we reached the summit of the second stage 

 of tlie mountain, we passed over a small plain of white pumice 

 on which were spread masses of lava, and at length arrived at 

 the foot of the cone. This division of the mountain forms what 

 is generally termed the Peak of Teneriffe ; it resembles the pre- 

 sent crater of Vesuvius, witii this difference, however, that while ■ 

 the surface of tliat mountain is composed of a black cinder or 

 a>h, the sjipcificies of this appears to be a deposit of pumice of 

 a white colour, of scoria and of lava, with here and there consi- 

 derable masses tiiat were probably thrown out when the volcano 

 was in action. Towards the north-west on the right hand of our 

 ascent, there is a small current of lava showing itself above the 

 pumice, the composition of v/nich is similar to that at the bot- 

 tom, thov.gli of a redder tinge ; it is broken on the surface, and 

 is in a rapid state of decomposition. Numerous small cavities 

 on the side of the mountain emitted vapour with considerable 

 heat. Here begins, in my opinion, the only fatiguing part of 

 the ascent ; the steepness of the cone is excessive, at each step 

 our feet sunk into tlie ash, and large masses of pumice and lava 

 rolled down from above; we were all bruised, and our feet and 

 legs were cut, but none materially hurt : at last we surmounted 

 all difficulties, and seated ourselves on the highest ridge of the 

 mountain. This uppermost region does not apj3ear to conttvin 

 in sujierficies more than an acre and an half; it is composed of a 

 lava similar to that on its sides, though decomposed and changed 

 white or greybv the action of the sulphmous acid : this acre and 

 an half is itself a small crater, the whIIb of which are the dif- 

 ferent points on which we sat, and are jilainly visi'>le from below. 

 Within, the lava is in tha most rapid state of decomposition ; 

 losing its brown colour and shade of red, and acquning a whitish 

 grey ahuost the colour of clialk ; large masses of sulphur are 

 depositing, which are crystallized in minute though distinct 

 forms ; there is also a coating of alum ])roduced by the union of 

 the sulphmous acid with the argil of the lava ; the surface is hot 

 to tlie feet, and the guides said it was dangerous to remain 

 long in one spot : as it was, some of us sunk to our knees in the 

 hot deposit of sulphur : u])on striking the ground with the feet 

 the sound is hollow, similar to what is produced by the same im- 

 j)ulsion on the craters of Vesuvius and Solfulerra. I estimate 

 the depth of the crater to be, from the highest ridge to the bot- 

 tom al)0ut 200 feet, forming an easy and gradual descent, the 

 wltole being in a state of rapid decomposition, and charged with 

 sulphur, large masses of which are every \vhere depositing. I 

 Vol. 45. No.203. ///jrinS15. "ll searched 



