186 Dr. Nugent on the Souffriere of Mont s err at, 



and which in many places was so denuded of soil, as to render it a mat- 

 ter of astonishment how vegetation, and particularly that of the cane, 

 should thrive so welh The far greater part of the whole island is 

 made up of this porphyry, which by some systematicks would be 

 considered as referable to the newest floetz trap formation, and by 

 others would be regarded only as a variety of lava. It is a compact 

 and highly indurated argillaceous rock of a grey colour, replete with 

 large and perfect crystals of white felspar and black hornblende. 

 Rocks of this description generally pass in the West Indies by the 

 vague denomination of fire-stone, from the useful property they 

 possess of resisting the operation of intense heat. A considerable 

 quantity of this stone is accordingly exported from Montserrat to 

 the other islands which do not contain it, being essential in form- 

 ing the masonry around the copper boilers in sugar works. We 

 continued our ride a considerable distance beyond the estate called 

 " Galloivays^' (where we procured a guide) till we came to the side 

 of a very deep ravine which extends in a winding direction the 

 whole way from one of the higher mountains to the sea. A rugged 

 horse-path was traced along the brink of the ravine, which we fol- 

 lowed amidst the most beautiful and romantic scenery. At the 

 head of this ravine is a small amphitheatre formed by lofty surround- 

 ing mountains, and here is situated what is termed " The Sulphur." 

 Though the scene was extremely grand and well worthy of obser- 

 vation, yet I confess I could not help feeling a good deal disap- 

 pointed, as there was nothing like a crater to be seen, or any thing 

 else that could lead me to suppose the place had any connexion- 

 with a volcano. On the north, east and west sides were lofty moun- 

 tains wooded to the tops, composed apparently of the same kind of 

 porphyry we had noticed all along the way. On the south, the 

 same kind of rock of no great height, quite bare of vegetation, and 



