TO GUAHON. 181 



the quaking of the earth ceased, the fire visibly de- 

 creased, and they now plainly saw an island of the 

 form of a pointed black cap. When Kriukof visited 

 the island of Oomnack, a month after, he found 

 the new island, which, during that time, liad con- 

 tinued to emit fire considerably higher. After 

 that time it threw out less fire, but more smoke: 

 it had increased in height and circumference, and 

 often changed its form. For four years no more 

 smoke was seen, and in the eighth year, (1804,) the 

 hunters resolved to visit it, as they observed that 

 many sea-lions resorted to it. The water round 

 the island was found warm, and the island itself so 

 hot in many places that they could not tread on it. 

 The island is said to increase in height and extent 

 to this day. A very sensible Russian who was 

 there, told me, that it is two miles and a half in 

 circumference, and was three hundred and fifty 

 feet high : for three miles around, the sea is strewn 

 with stones. He found the island warm from the 

 middle to the summit, and the smoke which as- 

 cended from the crater appeared to him to have 

 an agreeable smell. Some hundred fathoms to the 

 north of this island is a rocky pillar of considerable 

 height, mentioned by Cook : he took it, at a dis- 

 tance, to be a ship under sail. Our Russian navi- 

 gator, Saritschef, has seen this pillar, which has kept 

 its place since time immemorial. Experience has 

 however now taught us that it is connected under 

 water with the island of Oonemack. 



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