Geology 



The volcano was now emitting puffs of steam and 

 occasionally scattering a few stones to windward, but at 

 this distance no sounds could be heard, and the earth- 

 tremors, which were such a constant feature during the 

 height of the eruption, had entirely ceased. We de- 

 termined to avoid the valley between the two cones, as 

 we knew it to be occupied by recent lava, which, even if 

 sufficiently cooled to allow of a safe foothold, would be 

 very difficult to cross owing to the extreme irregularity 

 and roughness of its surface, and to make our way round 

 the base of the cone to its northern side and attempt the 

 ascent from there. 



We first ascended the valley as far as the foot of 

 the lake and then followed the base of the cone. We 

 had to make a considerable detour to avoid a second 

 lava-stream, evidently the one whose light had thrown 

 the cone into silhouette on the night of the climax of 

 the eruption. This obstacle passed, we commenced the 

 ascent. Everywhere the ground was strewn by blocks 

 of solidified lava of irregular form, evidently hurled 

 from the summit crater. These were accompanied by a 

 smaller number of volcanic bombs, some of which were 

 pear-shaped and others had a curious twisted appearance, 

 being masses of lava which had been hurled into the air 

 while in a pasty condition and had solidified before 

 reaching the ground. The cone was deeply covered by 

 loose deposits of volcanic ash, and over the last part of 

 the climb we sank nearly knee-deep in this, at every 

 step raising clouds of suffocating dust. 



Arrived at a point 200 feet from the summit, we 

 found it necessary to make a circuit of the cone, in order 

 to avoid the fumes from the crater, and this brought us 



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