THE AM ERIC AX NATURALIST. [Vol. XXXV I II. 



antiquated and obviously inaccurate. The same is true of the open- 

 ing sentence — there is certainly good historic evidence of the activ- 

 ity of Pelee before 185 1. The notation for magnetic directions is 

 obscure, and in such cases the original symbols are reproduced in 

 the footnote. Making due allowance for trifling inaccuracies, the 

 report as a whole is the most complete and scientific record extant 

 of the topographic details of the southern slope of Pelee prior to the 

 eruptions of 1902-03. 



The Official Report, 185 i. 



A tradition without historical foundation records Mt. Pelee to 

 be a volcano. The conical form, the crater lake, the pumiceous 

 soil, all fostered this supposition. It was known also that in one 

 of the gorges there was sulphur, and the inhabitants living near 

 called this the Soufriere. The druggist Peyraud made a scienti 

 fic excursion there in 1838 1 and brought back stalactites of 

 pure sulphur attached to the leaves of a tree. 



