ACCOUNT OF THE MUD VOLCANOES IN TRINIDAD. 95 



thirty feet in the air, and the theatre of the eruption being 

 unapproachable within fifty paces. 



Close to the first volcano, but in a much more low and sunk 

 situation, is another of precisely the same appearance and cha- 

 racter, with only a narrow ravine between the two. 



Such an extraordinary phaenomenon induced us to exa- 

 mine the neighbouring mounts of the cleared country, close 

 to the nearest of which stands the residence of Mon- 

 sieur Chancelier, a French planter, and we found them 

 all, (bating only the eruption) to possess the same form and 

 composition in all respects as those we had just quitted. The 

 platform and parapet were easily distinguishable, the chimneys 

 only were gone, but small pits were left in their places, filled 

 with mud, from which air-bells rose even under our own ob- 

 servation, and our conductor, the intelligent manager of the 

 estate, told us, that when these rose in salt-water, a fresh erup- 

 tion was to be apprehended. He pointed out the former site 

 of his master's residence, half-way up the mount, which had 

 been destroyed by one of these eruptions, after a period of 

 cessation so long, that no record remained of the one that had 

 preceded it, and he assured us, that during the period he had 

 lived there (fourteen years) the largest mount now in activity 

 had gained a very considerable increase of height. 



I have been thus particular in detailing (though at most ir- 

 relevant length, in a military report) this curious phaenome- 

 non, from a belief that it has not been treated of by any 

 author, and that, when investigated by scientific men, new 

 light may be thrown on the original formation of argillaceous 

 hills in situations where it might otherwise be difficult to ac- 

 count for their appearance. 



The magnificent isolated mountain of Tamanaa, in the centre 

 of the great eastern marsh, unconnected with any chain of 

 hills, and at an immense distance, on every side, from what 



may 



