ITS PROGRESS. 259 



the hissing was the solid matter coming in contact 

 with water at a lower temperature ; and the ascent 

 and fall of the dark solid matter, was a direct con- 

 firmation of the other two. 



The young island having thus attracted atten- 

 tion, Vice-admiral Hotham directed Commander 

 Swinburne of the sloop Rapid to examine it. The 

 Commander discovered the island at four p. m. on 

 the 1 8th of July. It was then about forty miles 

 distant, and had the appearance of a column of 

 white smoke. Advancing about thirty miles, he 

 saw at fifteen minutes past eight, bright light min- 

 gling with the smoke. The column then became 

 black; but immediately "eruptions of lurid fire" 

 shot up ; and then the whiteness of the smoke 

 returned. The same succession of appearances 

 continued till five in the morning of the 19th, 

 when they again steered for the island. 



Whether Commander Swinburne did or did not 

 see the very first eruption, he must have been 

 near the time of the commencement, for early in 

 the morning he saw, in the intervals of the erup- 

 tions, only a small hillock, a few feet above the 

 level of the sea ; but as the discharges of dust, and 

 stones, and steam were frequent, the progress of 

 the island could not be seen. At the distance of 

 one mile north the depth was one hundred and 

 thirty fathoms \ and when the Commander took 

 his boat and rowed towards it, twenty yards of the 

 weather side, there were eighteen fathoms water. 

 For two or three miles round, the sea was disco- 

 loured with dust and cinders ; but at the distance 

 of only twelve yards, the sea was but one degree 

 above its ordinary temperature. 



The island then appeared in the form of a crater 



