204 SANEWICH ISLANDS. 



of the lakes, when a portion of the bank forming one of its 

 sides, was seen to give way and fall into the liquid lava beneath 

 with a frightful crash. The whole surface was in the most vio- 

 lent agitation ; billows were formed as high apparently as any 

 we had ever seen on the ocean, and dashed against the side of 

 the crater with such violence as to throw the fiery spray sixty 

 or seventy feet high. The sight of this spectacle alone would 

 have repaid us for the trouble of coming thus far. When the 

 surface of the fiery stream became quiescent again, we wrapped 

 ourselves in our blankets and sought repose. 



When breakfast was over, we proceeded to visit the bottom 

 of the crater. After a brief walk in the direction of the Sul- 

 phur Springs, we turned to the left, and suddenly commenced 

 descending by a steep and rugged path ; columns of vapors 

 smelling strongly of sulphur were issuing from crevices and 

 pits lining either side of the road. We estimated some of 

 the latter to be upwards of two hundred feet in depth. After 

 a descent of about one quarter of a mile, we passed on our 

 right a crater which bore unmistakable signs of having long 

 since become extinct ; it was everywhere covered with shrub- 

 bery, and trees of considerable dimensions. Another walk of 

 about fifteen minutes brought us to what is called the " Ledge." 

 It was not until then that we formed an adequate idea of the 

 magnitude and sublimity of this wonderful crater. On which- 

 soever side we cast our eyes, we beheld a wall of solid lava 

 of a thousand feet, or more, in altitude, and from six to seven 

 miles in circumference. This ledge surrounds the crater ; 

 thus forming a kind of natural gallery several hundred yards 

 in width. The surface is but little broken, and presents a 

 uniform appearance, being of a dark brown or iron color. 



At length we reached the bottom. The path leading to 

 this was also very abrupt and dangerous ; we were in danger 



