OFF THE AZORES. 37 



about equi-distant from Sciacca and Pantillaria. It had arisen from a 

 sand bank, which was previously covered (though not with deep water) 

 by the sea, and well known to mariners by the name of " Nerita." This 

 sand bank itself, which extends for some distance, is probably the result 

 of some anterior volcanic convulsion. 



Just as they were within a few oars' length of the new island, the sun 

 rose in all its glory behind the dark crater, revealing its form, and shin- 

 ing through the dense smoke with singular effect. They began their 

 examination at the north west of the volcano, where it presented the 

 form of a round hill, rising about 120 feet above the level of the sea. 

 They were deterred from a closer approach by a thick cloud of white smoke, 

 which issued from the side of the hill, on a level with the sea. They 

 rowed the boat round the island, keeping about twenty feet from it, 

 until they came to the north east point, where they found that the island 

 was some feet higher than at the part previousl) 7 examined, and that there 

 was a piece of flat sandy shore, which seemed to afford a good landing 

 place. As, however, nobody had hitherto set foot on this new produc- 

 tion of nature, some apprehensions as to the safety of so doing, or whether 

 they would not be swallowed up, were entertained by the Sicilians. 

 After some minutes of hesitation, one of the sailors leaped ashore, and 

 found tolerable firm footing. The English gentlemen followed him, but 

 the sailor was still reluctant to proceed, or to ascend the side of the 

 volcano. Mr. Wright (one of the party) advanced a few steps, and 

 perceiving some bright yellow stones which had very much the appearance 

 of gold, he picked up some of them, and cried out, " Run, run, my 

 friends ! here is gold, here is gold !" This temptation was irresistible ; 

 every man left the boat ; or, to use the words of one of the party, " they 

 all leaped on shore like so many devils careless of life, through the 

 avidity to obtain part of the treasure;'' but it is needless to say this was 

 only a ruse. Finding that they nowhere sank much deeper than the 

 ankle in the sandy soil, they readily followed Mr. Wright's example, and 

 climbed up to the ridge of the island, at the part where it was lowest. 

 Having reached this point with some difficulty, they stood on the edge 

 of the crater, that was flanked on either side by a cone or peak, of 

 superior elevation. The form of the crater was very irregular ; within 

 it, and 45 feet below its lip, or edge, on which they stood, and nearly 

 on a level with the surface of the sea, they saw two small lakes of boiling 

 water. One of these lakes was about 150 feet in circumference, the 

 vther not more than 30 feet. In the first, the color of the water was a 



