56 A HISTORY OF 



fish *n great abundance were found, and that all those who eat of t Vr* 

 died shortly after. 



"On the twenty-fourth of May,* in the year 1707, a slight earth- 

 quake was perceived at Santorin ; and the day following, at sun-rising,' 

 an object was seen by the inhabitants of that island, at two or three 

 miles distance at sea, which appeared like a floating rock. Some per- 

 sons, desirous either of gain, or incited by curiosity, went there, and 

 found, even while they stood upon this rock, that it seemed to rise 

 beneath their feet. They perceived also, that its surface was covered 

 with pumice-stones and oysters, which it had raised from the bottom. 

 Every day after, until the fourteenth of June, this rock seemed con- 

 siderably to increase ; and then \vas found to be half a mile round, 

 and about thirty feet above the sea. The earth of which it was com- 

 posed seemed whitish, with a small proportion of clay. Soon after 

 this the sea again appeared troubled, and steams arose which were 

 very offensive to the inhabitants of Santorin. But on the sixteenth 

 of the succeeding month, seventeen or eighteen rocks more were seen 

 to rise out of the sea, and at length to join together. All this was 

 accompanied with the most terrible noise, and fires that proceeded 

 from the island that was newly formed. The whole mass, however, 

 of all this new formed earth, uniting, increased every day, both in 

 height and breadth, and, by the force of its explosions, cast forth 

 rocks to seven miles distance. This continued to bear the same dread- 

 ful appearances till the month of November in the same year ; and it 

 is at present a valcano which sometimes renews its explosions. It is 

 about three miles in circumference ; and more than from thirty-five 

 to forty feet high." 



It seems extraordinary, that about this place in particular, islands 

 have appeared at different times, particularly that of Hiera, mentioned 

 above, which has received considerable additions in succeeding ages. 

 Justin tells us,t that at the time the Macedonians were at war with 

 the Romans, a new island appeared between those of Theramenes 

 and Therasia, by means of an earthquake. We are told that this be- 

 came half as large again about a thousand years after, another island 

 rising up by its side, and joining to it, so as scarce at present to be 

 distinguished from the former. 



A new island was formed, in the year 1720, near that of Tercera, 

 near the continent of Africa, by the same causes. In the beginning 

 of December, at night, there was a terrible earthquake at that place, 

 and the top of a new island appeared, which cast forth smoke in vast 

 quantities. The pilot of a ship, who approached it, sounded on "ne 

 side of this island, and could not find ground at sixty fathom: at the 

 other side the sea was totally tinged of a different colour, exhibit- 

 ing a mixture of white, blue, and green ; and was very shallow 

 This island, on its first appearance, was larger than it is at present 

 for it has since that time sunk in such a manner, as to be scarcely above 

 water. 



A traveller, whom these appearances could not avoid affecting, 

 apeaks of them in this manner :| " What can be more surprising than 



Hist. -Icl Acad an. 1708, p. 23. f Justin, lib. xxx. cap. 4 f Phil, ^rai s. voJ p. l'J7. 



