VOLCANIC PHENOMENA, SAMOA. 441 



easterly winds prevailed Olosenga would be buried, and Tau 

 likewise with northerly and westerly winds. 



Sept. 16 to 19. — The frequency antl fury of the eruptions 

 continued nig-ht and day at much the same rate as before. 



Sept. 20 to 22. — The commotions now increased greatly in 

 fury and in dimensions; the volcano became like a great 

 crater, emitting mud and clouds of black, brown, and white 

 smoke. These discharges of mud and lai'ge burning bright 

 stones and scoriae were sufficient, accordino- to Taunffa's con- 

 jecture, to fill more than 50,000 men-of-war. Quantities of 

 scori'cB floated on the sea, and were washed ashore along the 

 opposite coast of Ofu. These discharges were thrown up 

 higher than the mountain of Olosenga. One volley of rocks 

 and stones succeeded another so rapidly that the masses 

 ascending met those descending in mid-air, thereby causing a 

 hideous concussion and roaring noise. The din was heard at 

 Tutuila* as though close at hand. The eruptions were seen 

 from there. 



Sept. 23 (Sunday). — The violence of the volcanic storm 

 had now subsided, the eruptions occurring only about 

 once in every two hours. This much surprised the people, 

 who did not expect so sudden a change. The clouds of black 

 and brown smoke were much higher and spread more widely ; 

 then they suddenly disa])peared alto^ethe]', and only the 

 swell of the sea remained. 



Sept. 25. — The commotion began anew, with inci'eased 

 frerpiency and violence. 



Taunga's estimate of the dimensions of the volcano is 

 this : — It was one hundred feet wide and about half a mile 

 long, or a mile, ])erhaps, from north to south. It was much 

 nearer to Olosenga than to Tau, about two miles from Tau. 



*T1r' nearest point, of the island ofTiitsila is sixty nautical mile« from tin 

 scene of the erui)tion, between the islands of Tau and Olosenga. 



