INTRODUCTION. 



ille of Bourt)on, fpared neither care nor 

 expences to enable Mr. Commerfon to ap- 

 proach as near as poffible to the mouth of 

 the volcano, and to exaniine its produc- 

 tions. He even did more: he accompa^ 

 nied him in his excurfion ; and this -en- 

 lightened zeal in a governor defer ves, with- 

 out doubt, the grateful thanks of thpfe who 

 cultivate the fciences and intereft themfelves 

 in their progrefs, 



Accefs to the volcano of the ifle of Bour- 

 bon is very difficult ; the country is burnt 

 up, and a defart for more than fix milei 

 round, while heaps of afhes, lava, and fco- 

 riae, together with fiflurcs and precipices, 

 render it very dangerous and troublefome 

 to afcend to it. One muft choofe a favour- 

 able time, during ferene weather, to vifit 

 the mouth of this gulf, for a few drops of 

 rain are fufHcient to excite an eruption. 

 Thofe who £houId attempt to approach it, 



when 



