large rounded masses. The whole surface is so solid that I walked, 
"by stepping from one elevation to another, up to the very "brink of 
the fissure, where I looked down with no little apprehension into 
the seething caldron, where, IE or 15 feet "below, was a mass of 
dark-green water in a state of constant agitation, threatening an 
eruption. The crater is about 10 feet in diameter, lined with an 
irregular coating of "beaded silica. The water soon began to rise, 
plunging from side to side in great surges, sending up masses of 
steam and emitting angry, rumbling sounds. This demonstration 
caused a precipitate retreat, on my part, to the border of the basin, 
thinking that I could appreciate the beauties of a scalding shower- 
bath better from that point of view. 
An irregular mass of water was thrown into the air in the 
utmost confusion, spreading out at every angle and whirling in every 
direction, some jets rising vertically to the height of 60 or 80 feet, 
then separating into large glistening drops and falling back into 
4 
the whirling mass of water and steam; others shooting at an angle 
of 45° and falling upon the islands and pools SO or 40 feet from the 
base. The eruptive force, for a moment, dies away and the water 
sinks back into the tube. Then, with another tremendous effort, 
a second body of water is driven into the air, but with a motion so 
much more simple than before that the whole mass assumes a more 
regular form and is like a great fountain with a thousand' jets, de- 
scribing curves almost equal on all sides and forming a symmetrical 
whole more varied and more grand than any similar work by man. The 
intermittent action continues for nearly an hour, but is so constantly 
