494 DOMAIN XII. VOLCANIC. 



Fail of the reason occasioned surprise, for its summit had 



summit. 



fallen in, and its mouth was considerably en- 

 larged. 

 Globular <c Considerable eruptions evolved from it of au 



clouds. 



entirely different nature to those by which they 

 were preceded. From the crater thick globular 

 clouds issued, of such huge dimensions as to fill 

 the whole cavity. Their surface appeared to be 

 granulated like the head of a cauliflower; and, 

 in proportion as they arose, they seemed to di- 

 late and extend themselves. When the sun 

 shone on them their irregular edges were of a 

 whitish colour. In the body of the cloud were 

 discerned substances of a greater specific gra- 

 vity, which fell down again, unable to continue 

 their ascent. Scarcely did one cloud proceed 

 from the mouth before it was followed by an- 

 other, so that the cone of Vesuvius was fre- 

 quently crowned with a multitude of these volu- 

 minous clouds, continually fed and renewed by 

 those which issued from the crater; and which 

 rose to a height continually increasing till it 

 exceeded that even of the mountain itself. These 

 clouds were composed of fragments of ancient 

 or drosses Java, and the rubbish of drosses and volcanic 



aud sand. * 



sand, projected into the air by the force of the 

 explosion ; and as one eruption scarcely waited 



