320 MITCHILL ON THE EARTHtlUAKES, &C. IN THE AZORES. 



ings were made in the very fields the gentlemen had traversed on the 

 3d, from the chasms before mentioned. They ejected a quantity of 

 lava, that travelled slowly on toward Vellas. 



The fire of these small craters subsided, and the lava ceased to run 

 on the 11th. Immediately the large one, which had lain quiet for nine 

 days, burst out anew with great fury. Its thunders were heard dis- 

 tinctly to the distance of twelve leagues, while it threw up lava, and 

 diffused light over the whole island. 



These operations continuing with tremendous force, until the 5th of 

 June, exhibited the awful, yet sublime, spectacle, plainly beheld from 

 Fayal, of a river of fire discharging itself into the sea. On that day, 

 their violence began to abate ; and in a few days all was still. 



The distance of the crater from the shore is stated to have been 

 about four miles; and its elevation nearly three thousand and five hun- 

 dred feet. The lava overwhelmed the town of Ursulina, the country 

 houses and cottages adjacent, and all the farm houses, in its course. 

 Timely notice was received of the approaching stream of melted mat- 

 ter, and the greater number of the inhabitants fled. Some few, how- 

 ever, having remained in its neighbourhood too long, in endeavouring 

 to save their furniture and effects, were scalded by puffs of steam, 

 which, without injuring their clothes, destroyed not only their skins, but 

 their flesh. About sixty persons experienced the destructive effect of 

 heat in this way, some of whom died on the spot, and others within a 

 few days. Numbers of cattle perished miserably by similar blasts of 

 highly-heated vapour. 



The judge and principal inhabitants left the island very soon after 

 the eruption began. The consternation, for several days, was so great 

 among the people, that their domestic concerns were abandoned ; and, 

 in the midst of plenty, they were in danger of starving. But on the 

 subsiding of the commotion, it was really discovered, that the island of 



