^2i4i rARTictfLARs or volcAnos and karthquakes. 



fummlts, the craters of which, form different conduits termi- 

 nating in the famecavityi The earthquake of 1797, afforded 

 a melancholy proof of this ; for the ground then opened every 

 People of Quito, where, and vomited forth fulphur, water, &c. Notwith- 

 fianding the dangers and horrors that furround them, the 

 people of Quito are gay, lively, and fociable, and in no 

 place did I ever fee a more decided and general tafle for plea- 

 fare, luxury, and amufement. Thus man accufloms himfelf 

 to fleep tranquilly on the brink of a precipice. 

 Pichincha. J ^yas twice at the mouth of the crater of Pichincha, the 



mountain that overlooks the city of Quito. I know of no one 

 but Condamine, that ever reached it before ; and he was 

 without inftruments, and could not flay above a quarter of an 

 hour, on account of the extreme cold. I was more fuccefsful. 

 Its Crater. From the edge of the crater rife three peaks, which are free 



from fnow, as it is continually melted by the afcending vapour. 

 At the fummitof one of thcfe I found a rock, that projected 

 over the precipice, and hence I made my obfervations. This 

 rock was about twelve feet long, by fix broad, and flrongly 

 agitated by the frequent fliocks, of which we counted eighteen 

 in lefs than half an hour. We lay on our bellies, the better 

 to examine the bottom of the crater. The mouth of the 

 volcano forms a circular hole, near a league in circumference, 

 the perpendicular edges of which are covered with fnow on 

 the top. The infide is of a deep black ; but the abyfs is fo 

 Several moun- vafl, that the fummits of feveral mountains may be diftin- 

 tains within it. gujfl^ed in it. Their tops feemed to be fix hundred yards 

 below us, judge then where their bafes mufl be. I have no 

 doubt but the bottom of the crater is on a level with the city 

 of Quito. Condamine found it extind, and even covered 

 with fnow; but we had to report the unpleafant news, that 

 Its diameter it was burning. On my fecond vifit, being better furnifhed 

 J oo yar s; ^^j^j^ inftruments, I found the diameter of the crater to be 

 height 5x8oi 1600 yards, whereas that of Vefuvius is but 670. The height 



of the mountain is 5280 yards. 

 Volcano of An- When we vifited Ihe volcano of Antifana, the weather 

 tifatia, 5915 ^^,^^ (y favourable, that we reached the height of 5915 yards. 



yard-. , fi J 



Barr.metpr at ^'^ ^^^'^ '^'V region, the barometer funk to II- inches 7 lines, 



15.6 indies. [1.5.6 Eng.] and the tenuity of the air occaltoned the blood 



Hemorrhages to iffue from our lips, gums, and even eyes : we felt ex- 



roug ton, trcnicly It-eble, and one of our company fainted away. The 



I air 



