MtTCHILL ON THE EARTHQUAKES, &C. AT ST. VINCENTS. 319 



greens and aromatic shrubs, flowers, and many Alpine plants. On the 

 north and south sides of the base of the cone were two pieces of water, 

 one perfectly pure and tasteless, the other strongly impregnated with 

 sulphur and alum. This lonely and beautiful spot was rendered more 

 enchanting by the singularly melodious notes of a bird, an inhabitant of 

 these upper solitudes, and altogether unknown to the other parts of the 

 island ; hence, principally, called, or supposed to be, invisible ; though it 

 certainly has been seen, and is a species of the merle. 



" A century had now elapsed since the last convulsion of the mountain, 

 or since any other elements had disturbed the serenity of this wilder- 

 ness, than those which are common to the tropical tempest. It appa- 

 rently slumbered in primeval solitude and tranquillity, and from the 

 luxuriant vegetation and growth of the forest which covered its sides 

 from the base nearlv to the summit, seemed to discountenance the fact, 

 and falsify the records, of the ancient volcano. Such was the majestic, 

 peaceful Souffriere, on the 27th of April ; but we trod on ' ignem 

 repositum cineri doloso,' and our imaginary safety was soon to be con- 

 founded by the sudden danger of devastation. Just as the plantation 

 bells rang twelve at noon on Monday the 27th, an abrupt and dreadful 

 crash from the mountain, with a severe concussion of the earth, and 

 tremulous noise in the air, alarmed all around it. The resurrection of 

 this fiery furnace was proclaimed in a moment by a vast column of 

 thick, black, ropy smoke, like that of an immense glass-house, bursting 

 forth at once, and mounting to the sky, showering down sand, with 

 gritty calcined particles of earth and favilla mixed, on all below. This, 

 driven before the wind toward Wallibon and Morne Ronde, darkened 

 the air like a cataract of rain, and covered the bridges, woods, and 

 cane-pieces, with light gray-coloured ashes, resembling snow when 

 slightly covered by dust. As the eruption increased, this continual 

 shower expanded, destroying every appearance of vegetation. At 



