Geology 



feet. An enormous quantity of solid matter now began 

 to separate out from the cloud and to fall upon the sides 

 of the cone. Many of the larger stones were seen to 

 rebound and then to roll down the mountain-side, while 

 the smaller ones buried themselves in the soft white 

 powdery ash which clothed the surface as with a mantle 

 of snow. 



These four explosions appeared to be the forerunners 

 of a more violent stage of the eruption. The whole 

 summit of the cone became shrouded in vapour, and 

 loud bellowings proceeded from the centre of the cloud, 

 while huge globular masses of dust and steam were 

 hurled vertically from its centre in rapid succession. 

 Occasionally stones, larger than the average, were hurled 

 from the cloud, and many of these we saw, by means of 

 the field-glasses, to be either molten or, in any case, very 

 hot, as they left a trail of vapour behind them as they 

 fell through the air. One or two of these bombs fell on 

 the foot of the cone on which we stood. 



The weather seemed settled, and there was little 

 reason to fear a change of wind, and we therefore 

 decided to remain on or near the summit for the night, 

 although this was a somewhat risky matter, as in the 

 event of a sudden retreat becoming necessary, it would 

 not be easy to traverse the slaggy surface of the lava- 

 streams in the darkness. However, during the preced- 

 ing night the light from the cone had been almost con- 

 tinuous, and as any increase in activity would probably 

 be accompanied by a still more vivid glow, we decided 

 to remain. 



Half an hour before sundown a terrific series of 

 explosions took place in such rapid succession that it 



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