Mr. Beijuet ou the Island ofTetieriffe, 299 



surmounted all difficulties and seated ourselves on the highest ridge 

 of the mountain. This uppermost region does not appear to ' 

 contain in superficies more than an acre and an half, it is composed 

 of a lava similar to that on its sides, though decomposed and 

 changed white or grey by the action of the sulphurous acid ; this 

 acre and an half is itself a small crater, the walls of which are the 

 different points on which we sat, and are plainly visible from 

 below. Within, the lava is in the most rapid state of decomposition ; 

 losing its brown colour and shade of red, and acquiring a whitish 

 grey almost the colour of chalk j large masses of sulphur arci 

 depositing, which are crystallized in minute though distinct forms ; 

 there is also a coating of alum produced by the union of the 

 sulphurous acid with the argil of the lava ; the surface is hot to the 

 feet and the guides said it was dangerous to remain long in one 

 spot ; as it was, some of us sunk to our knees in the hot deposit of 

 sulphur; upon striking the ground with the feet the sound is* 

 hollow, similar to what is produced by the same impulsion on the 

 craters of Vesuvius and Solfatcrra, I estimate the depth of the crater 

 to be, from the highest ridge to the bottom, about 200 feet 

 forming an easy and gradual descent, the whole being in 

 a state of rapid decomposition, and charged with sulphur, large 

 masses of which are every where depositing. I searched in vain 

 for any of the arseniats so common on Vesuvius, nor could I find 

 those siliceous stalactites resembling strung pearls, which are met 

 with in the island of Isch'ia^ in the crater of the Solfaterra^ and in 

 the Maremma of Tuscany^ The sulphur is pure and fine, and Is 

 sold for a considerable price at Orotava. We were not able to go 

 all round the walls or exterior summit of the crater, and hence could 

 not distinguish its southern or western declivity ; M. Escolar 

 assured me they are similar to, though more rapid than the side by 



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