28 M'. Anderson's Account of a 



and the heat is lb intenfe, that it iS impoffible to go upon it. 

 Gouig round the bafe is very dangerous, as large mafies of rock 

 are conftantly fpUttlng with the heat, and tumbhng to the bot- 

 tom. At the bottom, on tlie north fide, is a very large rock 

 iplit in two ; each of thefe halves, which are feparated to a 

 confiderable dillance from each other, is rent in all dire(5tions, and 

 from the crevices iflue efflorefcences of a glofly appearance, which 

 tafte like vitriol, and alfo beautiful cryftallizations of fulphur. 

 On all parts of the mountain are great quantities of fulphur in all 

 f^att^s; alfo alum, vitriol, and other minerals. From the external' 

 jippcarance of this mountain,. I imagine it has only begun to 

 burn lately, as on leveral parts of it I faw fmall ihrubs and" 

 grafs, w^hich looked as if they had been lately fcorched and' 

 burnt. There ane feveral holes on the fouth, from which iffues 

 fmoke, feemingrlv broken out lately, as the bulhes round are but 

 lately burnt. On two oppofite fides of the burning mountain, 

 caft and wtft, reaching from its bafe to that of the fide of the 

 crater, are two lakes of water, about a tone's throw in breadth ; 

 they appear to be deep in the middle ■; their bottom to be co- 

 vered with a clay-like fubfl^ance. The water feems pleafant to 

 the tafte, and is of a chalybeate nature. I fuppofe thefe lakes 

 receive great in creafe, if they are not entirely fupported, by the 

 rain that tumbles down the fide of the crater. I obferved on: 

 the north fide of the bottom traces of beds of rivers, that to 

 appearance run great quantities of water at times to both thelc 

 lakes. By the ftones at their edges, 1 could perceive that either 

 abforption or evaporation, or perhaps both, go on fail. Tb^ 

 greater part of the bottom of the crater, except the mountain 

 and two lakes, is very level. On the fouth part are feveral 

 fhrubs and fmall trees. There are many ftones in it that feeni 

 to be impregnated with minerals : I faw feveral pieces of pu- 

 J niice- 



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