230 Scientific and General Memoranda. 



command, a high irregular column of very white smoke or steam, 

 bearing S. by E. 1 steered for it, and continued to do so till 8, 

 15, P. M., when, having gone about thirty miles by the reckon- 

 ing, 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 larger; 

 almost immediately afterwards several successive eruptions of 

 lurid lire rose up amidst the smoke; they subsided, and the co- 

 lumn then became gradually white again. As we seemed to near 

 it fast, I shortened sail and hove to till day-light, that I might 

 ascertain its 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 

 day-light, I again steered towards it, and about 5 A. M., when 

 the smoke had for a moment cleared away at the base, 1 saw 

 a small hillock of a dark colour a few ieet 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 appeared 

 to be discharging dust and stones with vast volumes of steam. 

 At 7, 30, the rushing noise of the eruptions was heard. At nine, 

 being distant from it about two miles, and the water being much 

 discoloured with dark objects at the surface, in various places, I 

 hove to and went in a boat to sound round and examine. I rowed 

 towards it, keeping on the weather side and sounding, but got no 

 bottom till within twenty yards of the western side, where I had 

 eighteen fathoms soft bottom ; this was the only sounding obtain- 

 ed, except from the brig, one mile true north from the centre of 

 the island, where the depth was one hundred and thirty fathoms 

 soft dark 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 dark brown 

 colour. Within it was to be seen, in the intervals between the 

 eruptions, a mixture of muddy water, steam, and cinders dashing 

 up and down, and occasionally 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 ten or twelve 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 were con- 



