APPENDAGE TO THE VOLCANIC. 



stones, which seem lifted up, gusts of smoke 

 more or less dense escape, as from under the ex- 

 tinguished and smoking remains of a great con- 

 flagration. This smoke, according to the wind, 

 disperses by spreading itself over all the surface, 

 or, in calm weather, rises in clouds more than 

 100 feet high, and is then sometimes seen at a 

 great distance. 



" A just idea may be formed of the burning 

 mass, and of the degree of heat of the burning 

 mine of Fontaynes, at the time that I was there, 

 by the following observation. I was travelling 

 towards Albin, coming from Villeneuve-la- 

 Cumade; on my arrival at Montmajet, three 

 hours from Fontaynes, I had observed this 

 smoke ; and my guide, from the place we had 

 just left, telling me he was no longer certain of 

 the way, I perceived it, and he sought it; 1 

 made him observe the smoke of the hill of Fon- 

 taynes, where he had never been, and with 

 which he was not in the least acquainted. 

 vapour. " I* 1 short, another circumstance sensibly 

 strikes the throat, the smelling, and the eyes ; 

 it is the moist and earthy vapour at times sensi- 

 bly sulphureous, at some places even suffocat- 

 ing 5 the disagreeableness of which is sometimes 

 perceived, even on approaching the vicinity of 

 Fontaynes, 



