194 



VOLCANIC ERUPTION. 



[1825. 



a temporary suspension. All that day the fires continued to rage with 

 unabating activity, while the mountain still continued to belch forth its 

 melted entrails in an unceasing cataract. 



The mercury continued to rise until four, P. M., when the tempera- 

 ture of the air had increased to 123°, and that of the water to 105°. Our 

 respiration now became difficult, and several of the crew complained 

 of extreme, faintness. It was evident that something must be done, 

 and that promptly.- " 0 for a cap-full of wind !" was the prayer of 

 each. The breath of a light zephyr from the continent, scarcely per- 

 ceptible to the cheek, was at length announced as the welcome signal 

 for the word, " All hands, unmoor !" This was a little before eight, 

 P. M. The anchor was soon apeak, and every inch of canvass ex- 

 tended along the spars, where it hung in useless drapery. 



All was again suspense and anxious expectation. Again the zephyr 

 breathed, and hope revived. At length it was announced from aloft 

 that the lighter canvass began to feel the air ; and in a few minutes 

 more the topsails began gradually to fill, when the anchor was brought 

 to the bow, and the Tartar began to move. At eight o'clock we were 

 wafted along by a fine little easterly breeze, for which we felt grateful 

 to Heaven. 



Our course lay southward, through the little strait or sound that 

 separated the burning mountain from Albemarle Island ; my object 

 being to get to windward of Narborough as soon as possible. It is 

 true that the north-west passage from Banks's Bay, by Cape Berkley, 

 would have been a shorter route into the main ocean ; but not the 

 safest, under existing circumstances. I therefore chose to run south, 

 to Elizabeth Bay, though in doing so we had to pass within about four 

 miles of those rivers of flaming lava, which were pouring into the wa- 

 ters of the bay. Had I adopted the other course, and passed to the 

 leeward of Narborough, we might have got clear of the island, but it 

 would have been impossible to prevent the sails and rigging taking 

 fire ; as the whole atmosphere on the lee side of the bay appeared to 

 be one mass of flame. The deafening sounds accompanying the 

 eruption still continued ; indeed the terrific grandeur of the scene 

 would have been incomplete without it. 



Heaven continued to favour us with a fine breeze, and the Tartar 

 slid along through the almost boiling ocean at the rate of about seven 

 miles an hour. On passing the currents of melted lava, I became ap- 

 prehensive that I should lose some of my men, as the influence of the 

 heat was so great that several of them were incapable of standing. 

 At that time the mercury in the thermometer was at 147° ; but on im- 

 mersing it into the water, it instantly rose to 150°. Had the wind 

 deserted us here, the consequences must have been horrible. But the 

 mercy of Providence was still extended towards us — the refreshing 

 breeze still urged us forward towards a more temperate atmosphere ; 

 so that at eleven P. M. we were safely anchored at the south extremity 

 of the bay, while the flaming Narborough lay fifteen miles to the lee- 

 ward. 



Here the temperature of the air was 110°, and that of the water 

 102° ; but at eight o'clock the next morning, the 16th, there being no 



