»OUFFRlERE OF MONTSERRAT. gt)^ 



generally pass in the West Indies by the vague denoraina- West lndi * 



tion 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 Mont- 



serrat to the other islands which do not contain it, being 



essential in forming the masonry around the copper boilers 



in sugar works. We continued our ride a considerable 



distance beyond the estate called " Galloway s" (where we 



procured a guide) till we came to the side of a very deep 



ravine which ex-tends 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 followed amidst the most beautiful and romantic scenery. 



At; the head of this ravine is a small amphitheatre formed by 



lofty surrounding mountains, and here is situate what is 



termed " TheSulphur. ,, Though the scene was extremely J he Su 'phur 



grand and well worthy of observation, yet I confess I could 



not help feeling a good deal disappointed, as there was 



nothing like a crater to be seen, or any thing else that could N °appearance 



,- " i * , j • • , •faTolcaao. 



lead me to suppose the place had any connexion with a 



volcano. On the north, east, and west sides were lofty 

 mountains 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 in a very peculiar state of 

 decomposition. And on the south-eastern side, our path 

 and the outlet into the ravine. The whole area thus in- 

 cluded might be three or four hundred yards in length, 

 and half that distance in breadth. The surface of the 

 ground, not occupied by the ravine, was broken and strewed 

 with fragments and masses of the porphyritic rock, for the The roclc de- 

 most part so exceedingly decomposed as to be friable and to thesu°phui«H? 

 crumble on the smallest pressure. For some time I thought vapour, 

 that this substance, which is perfectly white and in some 

 instance exhibits an arrangement like crystals, was a peculiar 

 mineral; but afterward became convinced, that it was 

 merely the porphyritic rock singularly altered, not by the 

 action of the air or weather, bat, as I conjecture, by a strong 

 sulphureous or sulphuric acid vapour, which is generated 

 here, and which is probably driven more against one side 



by 



