416 
DRS. T. ANDERSON AND J. S. FLETT ON THE ERUPTIONS OF THE 
them. As a matter of fact, there can be little doubt that the ram occasioned by the 
showers was working through the hot sand in the old channels of the streams, and 
that this was the origin of the clouds of vapour. 
Oji Saturday, the 10th May, it was apparent that the energy of the eruption was 
spent and a state of quiescence was at hand. For some time after daybreak the 
crater was almost free from discharges, but about half-past 9 o’clock the steam clouds 
l)enan to arise agfain, and continued with intermissions durinn the remainder of the 
day. It was obvious to all spectators that the worst was over and that the eruption 
was drawing to a close. 
On the 11th, steam still continued to ascend from the crater, and the mountain 
was veiled in smoke. On the 12th and 13th, at irregular intervals, sluggish discharges 
of slaty vapours took place, accompanied by low* rumbling noises. The column ot 
steam did not rise more than a few hundred feet above the summit. On the 14th the 
cloud over the crater was still dense but less lofty. There was a slight rain of small 
pebbles at Richmond Vale, near Ohateaubelair, while steam was seen arising from the 
crater in the evening. 
On the 15th, at 9.30 a.m., there was a slight escape of steam, otherwise the 
mountain remained clear all day. 
By this time on the windward side of the island considerable progress had been 
made with the work of interment. The wounded had been relieved and removed to 
hospital in Georgetown and Kingstown. Most of the pojDulation of the districts 
which lay to the north of the mountain, and which had not suftered so severely as the 
region to the south, had been drawn away and had settled temporarily in Georgetown, 
Kingstown, and other parts of the island. At Owia, Sandy Bay, and Fancy there 
were still green fields to be seen, and though many of the inhabitants fied, some 
remained. Elsewhere everything was covered under a sheet of ashes, very fine on 
the surface Imt mixed with lapilli and coarser blocks in the layers beneath. It 
resembled a desert covered with grey or brownish sand, except for the numerous 
ijlasted, broken, leafless trees which rose through the covering of ash. The rains had 
not yet been sufficient to clear out the old stream channels, and they were filled to 
the level of their banks with an accumulation of sand. The steam arising from the 
valleys on the hillsides after rain showed that every shower sent down freshets 
which, working in the hot ashes, were converted into steam clouds and wholly 
evaporated before they could reach the sea. At Fancy and in the district around 
Owia the valleys contained compaintively little deposit, and after a few showei's they 
resumed very much of their old appearance. But immensely greater masses of 
material had lodged in the river courses on the south side of the hill, and it was seven 
or eight days Ijefore any water was able to flow along their whole length to reach the 
sea. The Rabaka Dry River was dry for several days after the great eruption, and 
when it began to flow intermittently after very heavy showers the water came doAvn 
perfectly black and boiling hot. 
