230 FORMATION OF A VOLCANIC ISLE. 



existence of such an island is the fact that in modern 

 times an island has been seen to rise out of the sea, 

 and, after a time, to disappear, under the influence 

 of volcanic action. 



This remarkable event is related by Captain Til- 

 lard, an ofticer of the British Navy, who saw it 011 

 the 12th of June 1811, when approaching the island 

 of St. Michael. On this occasion smoke was seen 

 to rise from the surface of the sea, and, soon after, 

 showers of cinders to burst forth. We cannot do 

 better than give the captain's own words, as fol- 

 lows : 



" Imagine an immense body of smoke rising from 

 the sea, the surface of which was marked by the 

 silvery rippling of the waves. In a quiescent state 

 it had the appearance of a circular cloud revolving 

 on the water, like a horizontal wheel, in various and 

 irregular involutions, expanding itself gradually on 

 the lee side ; when, suddenly, a column of the 

 blackest cinders, ashes, and stones, would shoot up 

 in the form of a spire, at an angle of from ten to 

 twenty degrees from a perpendicular line, the angle 

 of inclination being universally to windward. This 

 was rapidly succeeded by a second, third, and fourth 

 shower, each acquiring greater velocity, and over- 

 topping the other, till they had attained an altitude 

 as much above the level of our eye as the sea was 

 below it. 



" As the impetus with which the several columns 

 were severally propelled diminished, and their ascend- 



