THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT PIT. EI-., 1 851.1 



T. A. JAGGAR, JR. 



Translator's Note. 



The following account of the eruption of 185 1 is a valuable geo- 

 graphical record for students of the recent volcanic happenings in 

 Martinique, and the only printed copy of the original report known to 

 the writer is in the library at Fort de France. The region described 

 as the seat of activity in 185 1, a gorge adjacent to that containing the 

 Etang Sec, is practically identical with the site of the crater of 1902, 

 or parts of it, and the very careful description of earlier conditions 

 there throws light on many of the phenomena of the later eruptions. 



The investigating commission of 185 1 report (i) abundant piuuice 

 in the old rocks of the mountain, (2) no activity at the summit lake, 

 (3) unusual amount of water in the Etang Sec, (4) entire absence of 

 lava or incandescent material, (5) fragments of diorite ejected, 

 (6) hot waters, steam and dry rock-dust from the vents, (7) a local 

 lornado, (8) sulphuretted hydrogen, (9) a buzzing noise or intermit- 

 tent detonations. In a very suggestive footnote they comment on the 

 superficial quality of the explosions, and although not themselves geol- 

 ogists, they conclude that Mount Pelee has never ejected molten lava 

 in any considerable amount, but has always belonged rather to the 

 cinder-cone type of volcanoes. There are, in fact, some ancient lava 

 flows and intrusive sheets, but they are rare, the tuffs and agglomer- 

 ates everywhere predominating. 



No attempt has been made to eliminate errors in the original 

 account. There are some geological and chemical phrases that are 



' Official Report of 1851.— The manuscript was apparently drafted bv Dr. Rufz. 

 The translator obtained access to the printed copy of this report, kept in the lib- 



1851. E. Ruella & Ch. Amand. Imprimeurs du Government, Rue du Bord de 

 Mer, 94. Rdpublique Fran^aise. 



