14 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO I695. 



wards the inhabitants perceived that a part of the mountain was sunk down, 

 and 3 or 4 days after another part ; and so from time to time, until the 

 burning lake was become almost half the space of the island. Wherefore 

 the inhabitants went on board their vessels and boats, from whence they perceived 

 that huge pieces of the mountain fell into this fiery lake, as into a bottomless pit, 

 with a most prodigious noise, as if a large cannon were discharged. It was re- 

 markable, that the more vehement the fire was, the less the island was shaken. 



The inhabitants of another town, called Woroe, upon the east side of the 

 island, not thinking themselves in so great danger, the opening or fiery lake 

 being yet at some distance, remained a month longer, until they saw the same 

 continually approaching them : they observed that when great pieces fell down, 

 and that the lake became wider, the noise was so much the greater : so that 

 they saw no likelihood but that all the island wf)uld be swallowed up. Where- 

 fore they unanimously transported themselves to Banda, leaving all their move- 

 ables for want of vessels. 



Several burning mountains have now been filled up, and quenched ; others 

 have begun to open themselves, and to cast out fire, as in the isle Chiaus. 

 There is likewise a burning mountain on the island Celebes. And in an infinite 

 number of places there is hot water found if you dig but 10 feet deep. In 

 the mountains of Ternata is always heard a terrible noise, as ot the crying of a 

 great many people, caused by the fire ; it often throws out stones, and jjrobably 

 is exceedingly deep, and the rather because it is likely that the several burning 

 mountains of the Molucca islands are beneath consumed by the same tire, which 

 joins the spacious openings together. The burning mountain on Banda throws 

 out a vast quantity of smoke and ashes, often much fire ; and makes a noise as 

 if many of the largest cannon were heard all at once. This mounfain has cast 

 out so many stones, and some near 6 feet long, that the adjacent sea, which 

 has been 40 or 50 fathoms deep, is not only filled up there, but become many 

 fathoms higher than the water. 



Specimens of the Use of Fluxions in the Solution of Geometric Problems. By 

 Jllr. ylbr. Demoivre* N° 21 6, p. 52. Transldted from the Latin. 

 You have here a method for the quadrature of curve figures ; for the measure 



* Abraham Demoivre was originally a Fri'iichman, and born at Vitry in Champagne, 1667; but 

 on ihe revoralion of ih^ edict of Nantes he came to England, where he continued to study tlie ma- 

 thematics, of which he became a celebrated master, and iaui;ht it (or liis living; and aUo oi ca^i.■n- 

 ally answered for gentlemen curious and difficult quesiioiis in chances, games, and other s.ubj;ct.s. 

 He died at London in 1754, at 87 years of age. Mr. Demoivre wa'. admiited a member ol the 

 Royil Society, and contribuied a number of papers to the Pbilosophicairran tactions, lie wa-i :\'.>o 

 author of several other works ; as, 1. \nimad' er^ions on Dr. Chene's Fluxio.is. Svo. I7i'-1; '' Doc- 

 trine of Chances, 4to. 1718, which has been much esleemedj J. Miscellania Anaiytica, 4to. 17ilO, 



