View from the top of the Volcano. ’ 177 
some day, to the great inconvenience of ourselves and others 
living beside us? The idea is appalling. It is with a feeling 
of relief then that we turn to another theory, which, although 
it deals with a force whose deadly powers we frequently see, 
still gives us a good, sound, solid earth to stand upon. Both 
earthquakes and volcanoes are in this ‘case ascribed to elec- 
tricity. Regular currents of this fluid, says Dr. Thomson, ‘the 
promulgator of the electrical theory, are continually running 
round this earth, along its stony ribs, which lie below the sur- 
face and which act as telegraphic wires: When the vein of 
conducting rocks is not sufficient to carry off the electricity 
which has gathered, an earthquake takes place ; when two or 
three veins meet, and there is no way for the electricity 
to escape, it forces itself upwards in a volcanic eruption. What 
the thunderstorm is in the air, the earthquake is in the earth. 
That is the way, at least, in which I understand it. It sounds 
well, and I hope it may be right. Anything is better than the 
shaky-crust theory. 
I must, however, return to the two lone beings on the top of 
Mount Yasiiry as the natives call it. 
» 
Tired at last of gazing on the volcanic exhibition, we turned, 
and there met our view, what I thought was the loveliest scene 
I had ever looked upon. Usually on these islands it is of no 
use going up hills to get a view, for when you get there you 
‘find yourself quite shut in by lofty trees. But here the volcano 
had effectually checked the approach of all vegetation, and we 
had a clear and uninterrupted view over seaand land. Between 
the volcano and the central mountains of the island, there lay 
a wide plain. It was green and flat—an unusual feature in the 
landscapes here, and was dotted with groves of palms and 
other trees, while embosomed in their midst lay a most lovely 
blue lake. At the back magnificent timbered ranges rose from 
the plain, riven with many a deep and gloomy gorge, down 
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