THE BUFFADERO. 53 



coast of the Pacific. On sailing into the bay one hears a dis- 

 tant noise, which might be taken for the spouting of a gigantic 

 whale, or the dying groans of a bull struck by the sharp steel 

 of the matador, or the rolling of thunder. Anxious to know 

 the cause, " It is the Buffadero," answer the boatmen, pointing 

 to a fantastically-shaped rock towards which they are rowing. 

 On approaching, a truly magnificent spectacle reveals itself; for 

 a colossal fountain springs from an aperture in the rock to a 

 hightof 150 ieet, and after having dissolved in myriads of gems, 

 returns to the foaming element which gave it birth. This 

 beautiful sight renews itself as often as the breakers rush 

 against the rock, and must be of unequalled splendour when a 

 tornado sweeps across the ocean and rolls its giant billows into 

 the hollowed bosom of the cliff. 



