FORMATION OF A VOLCANIC ISLE. 



smoke, in the most fanciful manner imaginable, in- 

 termixed with the finest particles of falling ashes ; 

 which at one time assumed the appearance of in- 

 numerable plumes of black and white ostrich 

 feathers surmounting each other; at another, that 

 of the light wavy branches of a weeping willow. 



" During these bursts the most vivid flashes of 

 lightning continually issued from the densest part 

 of the volcano ; and the cloud of smoke now ascend- 

 ing to an altitude much above the highest point to 

 which the ashes were projected, rolled off in large 

 masses of fleecy clouds, gradually expanding them- 

 selves before the wind, in a direction nearly hori- 

 zontal, and drawing Tip to them a quantity of water- 

 spouts, which formed a most beautiful and striking 

 addition to the general appearance of the scene." 



Such is the description given of this submarine 

 volcano in action ; and the crater which was thrown 

 up at the time was about twenty feet above the 

 level of the sea. As Captain Tillard could not, 

 however, delay his voyage to make further observa- 

 tions at that time, the action that subsequently took 

 place is not known ; but its results were seen shortly 

 afterwards. 



In about three weeks after the date of his passing 

 the spot, Captain Tillard returned to it and found 

 an island of about a mile in circumference, with a 

 height of between two and three hundred feet at its 

 highest point. There was 110 violent eruption 

 on, although the craters still emitted smoke. 



