314 THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. 



artillery ; the fire made new openings, whence issued 

 showers of ignited cinders and stones, which some- 

 times fell at a distance of two leagues. This state of 

 things lasted a whole year. In 1767, a new eruption 

 took place between Nea-Kameni and Paloe-Kameni ; 

 it recommenced in the month of June, and after 

 working ten or twelve days, a new island rose up in 

 the neighbourhood of Nea-Kameni. During four 

 months, a series of terrible phenomena occurred ; 

 considerable portions of the island were swallowed up, 

 but others were formed ; at last a second island ap- 

 peared, and it united with the first in June. It was 

 named the Black Island, on account of the colour of 

 its soil. The subterranean disturbance continued 

 until the end of the following year; and on the 15th 

 of April, there occurred an eruption of large ignited 

 stones, which fell two miles off." 



The eruptions and upheavings from the bottom of 

 the sea continued long after. The Academie des 

 Sciences sent M. Fouqu^ to study on the spot the 

 manner in which this remarkable archipelago became 

 developed. M. Fouque perfectly distinguished the two 

 processes simultaneously working towards the produc- 

 tion of new lands — the raising of the ground, and the 

 increaseof the raised spots by the deposit of lava, scoria), 

 and rocks, which were cast out from the boiling cavern. 



The bottom of the sea is, as we have seen, gei^erally 



