SOUFEIERE, AXD ON A VISIT TO MONTAGNE PELEE IN 1902. 
443 
torn from the walls of the crater showed in their brittle condition the effects of 
having been intensely heated and suddenly chilled, tliey were never fused on their 
surfaces, and presented no resemldance to the true bombs. Occasionally pieces of 
much charred wood entombed in the ash were to he seen in the sides of the rain-rills. 
On the windward side the proportion of large fragments in the ash deposit at this 
level was especially high, and where much of the finer dust had lieen washed away, 
great accumulations of stones remained. That the lower slopes were so bare, while 
near the summit fine ash remained in considerable sheets, was due to the deeper 
erosion features at lower levels. The sides of the ravines showed angles of about 40°, 
the winding knife-edges of the spurs had an average inclination of less than 10°, the 
summit cone sloped at about 25° to 30°. The amount of erosion of the new ashes was 
in direct proportion to the steepness of the slope in each case. It must also be 
remembered that originally the depth of the deposit was greatest immediately around 
the crater ; in some of the shallow valleys it was at least 12 feet, and may have 
been 20 feet in places. On the valley sides the large blocks and bombs could not 
rest ; they rolled down the steep slopes till they rested in the bottom of the ravines ; 
but on the edge of the crater they had accumulated, partly because more fell there 
and partly also because the surface slanted at angles sufiiciently low to enable them 
to lodge. 
The Grater. 
In the month of June it is seldom that the Soufriere is not capped with cloud, and 
one may consider himself fortunate if, after climbing the hill, he obtains a clear view 
of the crater. Our first ascent—from the leeward side—was made on a very favour¬ 
able day, and the first of the party to reach the edge of the crater coidd see the 
bottom for a few minutes. Then the mist closed in, and only once again did it lift 
sufficiently to enable us to discern the lakes in the floor of the depression. Heavy 
rain followed soon after, and we had to beat a hurried retreat. From the windward 
side we twice essayed the ascent, and were both times baffied ly the mist. Once we 
persevered and reached the edge of the cliff, ljut it was impossilfie to see for more 
than 30 yards in any direction, and the interior of tlie crater was a sea of vapour. 
For 10 days we waited in Georgetown, making daily excursions, but ready to start 
for the summit at any time when the conditions might seem propitious; but we never 
had a clear view of the upper part of tlie liill, and we were informed by the inhabi¬ 
tants that the month of June of this year (1902) had been more than usually unfavour¬ 
able for our purpose. 
Tlie first party to ascend the hill was led by Mr. T. M. McDonald, of Chateaube- 
lair, and included Professor Jaggar, Mr. E. O. Hovey, and Mr. Curtis. They had 
a very fine day (31st May), and were able to secure photographs of the north wall of 
the crater. Professor Jaggar was so good as to give us full descriptions of what he 
Mr. McDonald also conducted our first ascent, and placed all his information 
3 L 2 
saw. 
