12 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



about 3000 feet below the summit, which has been 

 active subsequent to the breaking up of the main 

 ice-cap that once covered the mountain, as is shown 

 by its comparatively unwasted crater and the 

 streams of unglaciated lava radiating from it. The 

 main summit is about a mile and a half in diameter, 

 bounded by small crumbling peaks and ridges, 

 among which we seek in vain for the outlines of the 

 ancient crater. 



These ruinous masses, and the deep glacial 

 grooves that flute the sides of the mountain, show 

 that it has been considerably lowered and wasted 

 by ice ; how much we have no sure means of know 

 ing. Just below the extreme summit hot sulphu 

 rous gases and vapor issue from irregular fissures, 

 mixed with spray derived from melting snow, the 

 last feeble expression of the mighty force that built 

 the mountain. Not in one great convulsion was 

 Shasta given birth. The crags of the summit and 

 the sections exposed by the glaciers down the sides 

 display enough of its internal framework to prove 

 that comparatively long periods of quiescence in 

 tervened between many distinct eruptions, during 

 which the cooling lavas ceased to flow, and became 

 permanent additions to the bulk of the growing 

 mountain. With alternate haste and deliberation 

 eruption succeeded eruption till the old volcano sur 

 passed even its present sublime height. 



Standing on the icy top of this, the grandest of 

 all the fire-mountains of the Sierra, we can hardly 

 fail to look forward to its next eruption. Gardens, 

 vineyards, homes have been planted confidingly on 

 the flanks of volcanoes which, after remaining stead- 



