626 
VOLCA-KTO IN OWIIYHEE. 
tations beyond conception fantastic and picturesque. In the extra- 
ordinary narrative of Mr. Bourrit’s journey hither, we meet with the 
following account of the Prieure, in the valley of Chamouni. 
“ We had, says he, the magnificent prospect of a chain of mountains, 
equally inaccessible, and covered with ice, and above the rest that of 
Mont Blanc, whose tops seemed to reach, and even pierce the highest 
region of the clouds. The chain, upon which the mountain looks 
down like a giant, is composed of masses of rocks, which terminate 
in pikes or spires, called the Needles, and w hich are ranged like tents 
in a camp. Their sides appear lighter and more airy, from the orna- 
ments of several hollow breaks and furrows fretted in the rock itself, 
as well as from the different streaks and panes of ice and snow, which, 
without changing the general character of their form, or the majesty 
of their appearance, give them a picturesque variety. Lower down, 
the eye surveys with ravishment the fields of ice, and the several gla- 
ciers, extending almost into the plain, whilst this appears like an 
artificial garden, embellished with the mixture of a variety of colours. 
We have a picturesque opposition to this chain, which is formed by 
innumerable mountains at the distance of near fifty leagues, betweers 
whose tops we have a glimpse of those several plains which they 
environ.” 
“ M. de Saussure, who had visited these mountains about two 
months before M. Bourrit, felt himself naturally electrified in this 
place. This extraordinary sensation seems not to have been expe- 
rienced by the latter or his company, but they heard a long continued 
rumbling noise, like that of thunder, which was rendered more awful 
by the silence of the place w'here they stood. This noise proceeded 
from the subsequent causes, viz. the avalanches of snow, which 
separated from the tops of the mountain, and rolled down to the 
bottom; considerable fragments of the rock which followed them, 
overturning others in their fall, and massy blocks of ice, preci- 
pitated from the summit. The valley of Montanvert appears to be 
particularly romantic. Here, says M. Bourrit, we beheld a spacious 
icy plain, entirely level, upon this rose a mountain all of ice, with 
steps ascending to the top, which seemed the throne of some divinity. 
It likewise took the form of a grand cascade, whose figure was 
beyond conception beautiful; and the sun, which shone upon it, 
gave a sparkling brilliancy to the whole. The valley on our right 
hand was ornamented with prodigious glaciers, that, shooting up to 
an immeasurable height between the mountains, blend their colours 
with the skies, wdiich they appear to reach.” 
Volcano in Hawaii, or Owhyhee, one of the Sandwich 
Islands. 
For the engraving which represents this terrible phenomenon, and 
also for the account which follows, we are indebted to the Tour of the 
Rev. William Ellis, who was for several years a missionary in these 
distant regions of the globe, and was an eye-witness to the eruptive 
scenery which he thus describes. — 
‘ Refreshed by a comfortable night’s sleep, we arose efore day-light 
on the morning of the first of August, and after stirring up the eni- 
