103 



solving to reacli the top, and in a short time saw a large 

 flight of crows and vultures, that had their nest in the 

 top of the mountain. Having ascended about half a 

 league, we felt the ground shake under us, and heard a 

 terrible noise in the bowels of the earth, just as if it was 

 going to burst open. At the same time there appeared 

 on all sides chinks, out of which issued bluish flames, 

 with a strong suffocating smell. This made us turn 

 back, for fear of being burnt to ashes. But we had 

 scarce proceeded tlrrty yards back, before a black cloud 

 of smoke ascended out of the mountain, obscured the 

 light of the sun, and covered us so thick, that we could 

 not see each other. Our fears increased every .step we 

 took ,* for behind us came flames of fire, with showers 



I of ashes and pumice stones, which fell as thick as hail. 



I This dreadful storm was attended with horrible noises, 

 and we expected every moment the earth would open 



I and swallow us up. This added wings to our flight, so 

 that in a quarter of an hour we got to the bottom of 

 the mountain/' 



12. There are volcanos likewise in many of the 

 American islands ; and a very eminent one in Guada- 

 loupe. The summit of this constantly emits smoke, 

 and sometimes flames. It rises very high, in the form 

 of a cone, above the chain of mountains that occupy 

 the centre of the island. Near the foot of it are three 

 springs, the waters of which are so hot as to boil eggs 

 in three minutes. The neighbouring ground smokes/and 

 is full of brown earth, like the dross of iron. But the 

 chief place where the smoke issues out, is higher up, at 

 the foot of a steep bank, about fifty yards in breadth. 

 Here no grass is to be seen ; nothing but sulphur and 

 calcined earth. The ground is full of deep cracks, 

 which emit much smoke, and where you may hear the 

 sulphur boil. Bat the stench of it is m!o!erablc. The- 

 ground is loose, so that you may thrust a rane up 

 to the head, And when you draw it up, it will be as 

 hot as if you had plunged it into slaking lime. 



On the plain top of the hill is another fnnuel, that 

 J? 3 



