1868.] SCHMIDT ERUPTION OF THE KAIMENI. 457 



May 20th, 1868. 

 The following communications were read : — 



1. On, the ERUPTION of the Kaimeni of Santorin. By Dr. J. 8. 

 Julius Schmidt, Director of the Observatory of Athens. 



(In a letter to His Excellency E. Erskine, British Minister at Athens.) 

 [Communicated by Sir R. I. Murchison, Bart., K.C.B., F.E.S., F.G.S.] 



During my first journey to Santorin, in February and March 1866, 1 

 communicated a general outline of this remarkable eruption, which 

 commenced at the end of January 1866, and has since been visited and 

 described by observers from different parts of Europe. These in- 

 clude the members of the Athens Commission, Messrs. Pouque and 

 Tauzen, Baron von Seebach, and Messrs. Fritsch, Eeiss, and Stiibel. 

 From time to time information has been received on the subject, and 

 everything has tended to show the extreme desirability of accurate 

 measurements. Up to the close of 1867 the eruption continued 

 without a day's (perhaps without an hour's) intermission. There 

 has also been no cessation in the growth of the lava-deposit on the 

 south side of the Nea Kaimeni, and there seems every probability 

 that some years may elapse before the volcanic energy of the island 

 will have altogether died out. 



On the 4th January 1868 I arrived at Santorin, in the Austrian 

 gunboat " Dalmat," commanded by Baron Wickede. We anchored 

 at Bancho, a little to the east of Mikra Kaimeni. Here we remained 

 until the evening of the 9th January, and were fortunate enough to 

 complete our observations in very fine weather. 



For want of instruments, my own observations were limited to 

 temperature and to taking sketches of the recent formations. Many 

 hours, both of the day and night, were occupied in determining the 

 exact nature of the eruptions of the George volcano, and in approxi- 

 mately making out their periodicity. 



The most essential part of the undertaking, namely, the mapping 

 of the newly formed deposit, was entirely left to the Baron Wickede, 

 who, between the 5th and 9th January, marked carefully with a good 

 prismatic compass all the principal positions of the area in question. 

 The officers of the Dalmat took the soundings and prepared the charts. 

 On the 9th January, at my desire. Baron Wickede and Lieutenant 

 MiiUer took trigonometrical measurements of the heights of the old 

 cone and of the George volcano. 



The extreme length of Nea Kaimeni was formerly 1800 yards, and 

 the average breadth 800 yards. The eruption is weU known to have 

 originated on the south side of the island, in a small bay below the 

 old volcano, and to have extended towards the west, throwing out a 

 spur through the Aphroessa. It also destroyed and covered up a 

 terrace on the south coast of Nea Kaimeni 300 yards wide and nearly 

 1000 yards long. The tendency of the lava-current was southward, 

 sometimes flowing slowly, sometimes welling up ; but the advance 

 was slow, the depth of water being ^ 00 fathoms. 



After about t^^'o veurs the extension towards the touth was be- 



