AMSTEEDAM AND ST. PAUL. 59 



over with cones from which lavas have been discharged. In 1792, at the time of 

 d'Entrecasteaux's visit, the island was in flames, caused either by the bxirning 

 of the dense mass of reeds growing on the plateaux, or b}' the craters, possibly 

 at that time in full activity. At present they are perfectly quiescent. 



St. Paul, which is five or six times smaller than Amsterdam, presents a 

 typical instance of a breached marine volcano of perfectly regular form. The 

 circular crater, now flooded by the sea, opens towards the north-east, and is 

 enclosed by escarpments and taluses from 760 to 900 feet high. Thus is formed 

 an extensive harbour of refuge completely sheltered and 240 feet deep, but 

 barred at the entrance by two projecting peninsulas of débris, which shift 

 their form with the waves, and which have at times been joined in a continuous 

 rampart, preventing all access to shipping. Thermal springs abound on the margin 

 of this basin, where by merely brushing aside the surface sands enough hot water 

 may be collected to boil the fish captured close by. 



A comparison of the early descriptions with those of modern explorers would 

 seem to show that the underground energies have greatly diminished since the 

 discovery of the island. The thermal springs are apparently cooler, the gas jets 

 less abundant, the hot spaces less extensive. Moreover the island is itself 

 diminishing through the rapid destruction of its shores. Everywhere the coast 

 is carved into clilfs, and on both sides of the entrance to the flooded crater huo-e 

 fragments have broken away from the flanks of the volcano. Towards the north- 

 east the coast is fringed by several rocky islets, of which the most striking are 

 La Quille, a horizontally stratified pyramidal mass, and North Island, a basaltic 

 colonnade affecting the form of a circular temple. 



The flora comprises from thirty-five to forty species of mosses and lichens, and 

 about fifteen of herbaceous growths. The trees planted by the fishermen and the 

 botanists of various expeditions have not succeeded, while the vegetables, such as 

 potatoes, sorrel, and carrots, have much degenerated. The cabbage alone thrives 

 to a surprising degree, tending even to acquire arborescent proportions. A few 

 butterflies, and even a bee, have been found, but no land-shells. The pigs let loose 

 on the island survived only a few years, but the cats, mice, and rats have become 

 acclimatised. " Thrown together by a common fate, they dwell peacefully in the 

 samie retreats." 



Amsterdam, less studied because less accessible than St. Paul, appears to 

 have a richer flora and fauna. It is even said to possess one or more small 

 quadrupeds, including a weasel. Here the French expedition of 1874 discovered 

 about fifty plants, of which as many as twenty-three were indigenous species. 

 Amongst the larger growths is the phylica arborea, a shrub which had not jjreviously 

 been met beyond the Atlantic basin. 



The Austral Islands. 



Several insular groups follow eastwards in the regions of the Indian Ocean 

 strewn with floating ice. But these cold lands, girdled round by breakers and 



