Geology 



of the two cones and of several other prominent features. 

 To the north and north-east were rounded hills of gneiss 

 similar to the one on which we stood ; beyond these was 

 a magnificent range of mountains with snow-covered 

 summits, amongst which we could detect numerous 

 glaciers. 



To the south and south-east lay the long line of 

 jagged peaks of the Palaeozoic chain, which we had 

 crossed by way of the valley of the Hutton. 



The more northerly of the two streams which flowed 

 to the fork, where we had left the porters, appeared to 

 flow from the foot of the smaller of the two volcanic 

 cones, and this we decided should be our route. 



So magnificent was the view from the summit, and 

 so delightful the mountain air, that we were loth to 

 return to the closeness of the valley below, and lingered 

 on, eating a light repast which we had carried in our 

 pockets. 



We were sitting facing the volcanoes when suddenly, 

 without the slightest warning, an enormous column of 

 what appeared to be dense black smoke was shot out 

 from the summit of the smaller cone, and rose rapidly to 

 a height which we judged to be about twice that of the 

 cone itself. The column then appeared to open out into 

 an umbrella-like form, and we could see, by means of our 

 glasses, a thick rain of stones falling frcm its under sur- 

 face. As the cloud of vapour slowly unfolded itself in 

 the brilliant sunlight, its shining upper surface resembled 

 a gigantic cauliflower. So engrossed were we in watch- 

 ing the development of this beautiful cloud of steam, that 

 we quite forgot the explosion which had caused it, and 

 were startled by the loud bellowing roar which appeared 



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