1832.] the Bay of Bengal. 129 



we found a small tree, or rather large shrub, and being much fa- 

 tigued with our previous exertions we sat down under its shade, and en- 

 joyed from thence a fine view of the volcano. It is an immense cone, 

 regularly sloping from the base to the summit, and in appearance and 

 color (to compare great things with small) resembling a heap of sifted 

 coal ashes, with cinders scattered over its surface. I cannot say exactly 

 what the diameter of the base may be, but should suppose it not less 

 than 800 or 1000 yards ; at the top it may be about 30, and the whole 

 of this space seems occupied by the mouth. Even at this height I 

 could observe no flame, but large volumes of thin white smoke kept 

 continually issuing from it. This cone stands by itself in the centre 

 of an amphitheatre of hills, which nearly close around it ; the only 

 opening to the sea being where we attempted to land. The summits 

 of the hills to the N. E. are completely smooth, and covered with ashes ; 

 those to the S. W. although partly covered with ashes also, have a 

 good many small shrubs scattered over them, with dry parched grass 

 growing on the surface. This appearance countenances a belief, that 

 it is only in the south-west monsoon, or rainy season, that eruptions 

 take place, at which time the S. W. wind would blow the dust and 

 ashes on the hills in the opposite direction, or N. E. 



ci Having dispatched a Iascar from the spot where we sat down, to 

 ascertain if it was yet far from the summit of the Island, he returned and 

 stated, that we had apparently advanced a very little way compared 

 with what still lay before us ; and that we could not accomplish our 

 object and be back before dusk. We therefore thought of descend- 

 ing, and as it would have been dangerous to do so the same way we 

 came up, we were obliged to go by the other side of the ridge, where 

 we had some grass, and occasionally a shrub or two to hold by. 



a We now rowed to where we first endeavoured to land, and found 

 that the tide had flowed several feet, which enabled us to have the boat 

 close in, and step on shore on the rocks. Being desirous to examine 

 the crater, we had to walk about three quarters of a mile over immense 

 fragments of the specimen No. 1, which extended from near the sea 

 side to within a short distance of the volcano, and along the only 

 valley or outlet that the island presented. From whence this rock 

 was derived, I could not decidedly say. It was lying carelessly and 

 so loosely as hardly to afford a sure footing in walking over it. It is 

 indeed difficult to describe the form in which this was lying, for 

 were you to take any quantity of large and small pieces of No. 1. 

 and throw them down in the most random manner, you could not 

 make them assume the strange disordered appearance that nature 



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