328 MITCHILL ON THE EARTHQUAKES, &C. IN THE AZORES. 



latitude thirty eight degrees north, longitude twenty-eight degrees thir- 

 teen minutes west, gave a description of it in the following words : 



" It commenced on the 15th of June, 1811, and I saw it on the 18th, 

 at which time it looked more terrific than at any time previous, accord- 

 ing to information which I got of persons who had observed it from the 

 beginning. It had emitted sand, rocks, &c. sufficient to form an island. 

 The shape of it is very much like a sugar-loaf; the crater was about the 

 centre of this island. I observed many rocks, of near a ton weight, 

 thrown up as much as half a mile above the horizon. There was a 

 constant noise like that of cannonading, and sometimes flashes of fire to 

 be seen, though very seldom, which caused me to think the fire was at a 

 great distance from the vent. The colour of the sea near it was quite 

 changed on account of the motion of the bottom, and the dirt, sulphur, 

 &c. falling into it. A great number of dead fish of different kinds were 

 floating about. We passed under a pillar of smoke, &c. which ascended 

 from the volcano, at about the distance of half a mile to leeward of this 

 new island. During the time we were under it, we experienced a most 

 violent shower of sand, sulphur, hot water, &c. ; some of the water 

 tasted salt, some bitter, and some sweet ; this variety in the taste of the 

 water was observed by tasting it at different times. The water was so 

 hot that it scalded one of the seamen that had the sleeves of his shirt 

 rolled up. The inhabitants of St. Michaels have felt many severe 

 shocks of earthquake ; several of the houses had been thrown down by 

 it, and great numbers of those standing very much damaged. The in- 

 habitants of the west end of the island have lived in open fields ever 

 since the 15th, for safety. Several springs have been discovered lately, 

 near the volcano ; the waters of which are so hot that eggs have been 

 boiled in them. 



" Five months ago, a similar event took place about four miles south- 

 east of this, and within a mile and a half of the shore, but did not coi?- 



