320 MITCHILL ON THE EARTHQUAKES, &C. AT ST. VINCENTS. 



night a very considerable degree of ignition was observed on the lips 

 of the crater ; but it is not asserted, that there was as yet any visible 

 ascension of flame. The same awful scene presented itself on Tues- 

 day ; the fall of fa villa and calcined pebbles still increasing, and the 

 compact pitchy column from the crater rising perpendicularly to an 

 immense height, with a noise at intervals like the muttering of distant 

 thunder. On Wednesday the 29th, all these menacing symptoms of 

 horror and combustion still gathered more thick and terrific for miles 

 around the dismal and half-obscured mountain. The prodigious column 

 shot up with quicker motion, dilating as it rose like a balloon. The 

 sun appeared in total eclipse, and shed a meridian twilight over us, that 

 aggravated the awful gloom of the scene, now completely powdered 

 over with falling particles. It was evident that the crisis was as yet to 

 come; that the burning fluid was struggling for a vent, and labouring 

 to throw off the superincumbent strata and obstructions which sup- 

 pressed the ignivomous torrent. At night it was manifest that it had 

 greatly disengaged itself from its burden, by the appearance of fire, 

 flashing now and then, flaking above the mouth of the crater. 



" On Thursday, the memorable 30th of April, the reflexion of the 

 rising sun on this majestic body of curling vapour was sublime beyond 

 imagination ; any comparison of the Glaciers, of the Andes, or Cordil- 

 leras with it, can but feebly convey an idea of the fleecy whiteness and 

 brilliancy of this awful column of intermingled and wreathed smoke 

 and clouds ; it afterwards assumed a more sulphureous cast, like what 

 we call thunder clouds, and in the course of the day, a ferruginous and 

 sanguine appearance, with much livelier action in the ascent, a more 

 extensive dilatation, as if almost freed from every obstruction ; in the 

 afternoon, the noise was incessant, and resembled the approach of thunr 

 der still nearer and nearer, with a vibration that affected the feelings 

 and hearing; as yet, there were no convulsive motions, or sensible 



