DOMAIN XII. VOLCANIC. 521 



explosion was accompanied with a burst of red 

 flame .... The stones ejected are of a lively 

 red, and sparkle, having the effect of artificial 

 fireworks.' 



" I must here remark that these sparkling 

 masses with the effect of fireworks, announce that 

 their base is combustible. 



" Having visited the mountain on the following 

 day, Dolomieu thus continues his description. 



6 From a little summit, you have a view of the 

 inflamed crater .... It is very small ; I do 

 not think that it exceeds fifty paces in diameter, 

 having the form of a funnel terminating in a point. 

 During all the time that I observed it, the erup- 

 tions succeeded with the same regularity as during 

 the night . . . the stones ejected forming diver- 

 gent rays ; and the greater part, which fell back 

 into the crater, rolling to the bottom seemed to 

 obstruct the vent, which the vapours had opened 

 at the moment of the explosion, and were thus 

 again ejected by the subsequent eruption. They 

 are thus tossed till they are broken and reduced to 

 cinders (coarse powder). But the volcano always 

 affords a new supply ; and is inexhaustible in this 

 kind of production. The approach of the eruption 

 is not announced by any noise or dull murmur in 

 the interior of the mountain ; and it is always by 

 surprise that one sees the stones darted into the 



