GRAHAM ISLAND. 



197 



tion of a volcanic island was in 1831, between Si- 

 cily and the coast of Africa. About the 10th of 

 July, the captain of a Sicilian vessel reported that, 

 as he passed near the place, he saw a column of wa- 

 ter like a water-spout, 60 feet high and 800 yards 

 in circumference, rising from the sea, and soon af- 

 terward a dense steam in its place, which ascended 

 to the height of 1800 feet. On his return on the 

 18th of July, he found a small island twelve feet high, 

 with a crater in its centre, ejecting volcanic matter 

 and immense volumes of vapour, the sea around 

 being covered with floating cinders and dead fish. 

 The eruption continued with great violence to the 

 end of the month, when it was from fifty to ninety- 

 feet high, and three fourths of a mile in circumfer- 

 ence. 



By the 4th of August it became above 200 feet 

 high and 3 miles in circumference, and presented 

 an appearance as in the following cut. 



Fig. 42. 



Graham Island as seen 1st of August. 



