478 
DTJ8. T. AXDERSOX AXD 4. 8. FLETT OX THE EETTTTOXS OF THE 
flow for a short distance down the slopes, giving rise to clouds of steam as it coursed 
over the surface. The discharge of steam thereafter for some time would keep the 
crater lake in a state of furious ebullition. 
Apparently again, in 1880, a considerably increased production of .sulphuretted 
hydrogen had killed the growing hush within the crater. This is a not uncommon 
phenomenon around the Soufrieres of Dominica and St. Lucia, where every increase 
or diminution in the amount of the poisonous gases emitted is attended by a widening 
or contraction of the surrounding region in .which the vegetation has been killed, and 
the blackened, blasted stems of trees scattered through the green forest are the 
standing witnesses of epochs during which the noxious fames were able to incre-ase 
the area over which they had control, but which they were unable permanently to 
dominate. 
THE SOUFRIEEE AND MONTAGNE PELEE. 
n eir Resemblances and their Differences. 
It is not possible at the present juncture for us to give more than the main points 
of similaritv and of difference in these two mountains, and the features of their activitv. 
Our own visit to Martinicjue was short, and was brought to an unexpected termination 
by the eruption of July 9th. Smaller outhur.sts followed during the next two days, 
and neither was it safe to work on the mountain slopes, nor could porters be obtained 
in Carhet, which had been deserted on the night of July 9th, who would undertake 
the ascent. We had, indeed, planned an excursion to the southern lip of the crater on 
the day after the eruption (July 10th), hut all the arrangements we had made were 
nullified Ijy the sudden increase of volcanic activit}" on the previous evening, and 
withcut much delay it woidd have been impossible to make an examination of the 
upper slopes tliat face St. Pierre. We had, Iiowever, spent two days in rhe ruined 
city, and examined tlm desolation wrought in tlie historic catastrophe which over¬ 
whelmed it, and had made a more or less cursory inspection of the lower fringes of the 
volcano and the fields and bluffs around the town. But there were many points of 
great importance into which we had not had time to enter. To Professor Laceoix, of 
the Scientific Expedition sent by the Academie des Sciences of Paris, we are indebted 
for much valuaUe information, and for his kind offices with the officials and others in 
the island of Martinique. His preliminary account of the re.sults of his first visit to 
the scenes of the eruption^ has furnished us with additional details. In Fort de France 
we had the privilege of renewing our friendship with Professor Jaggar, of Harvard, 
whom we had previously met in Barbados, and he and Mr. Rost, photographer to the 
United States Geological Survey, discussed with us most frankly the results of their 
observations, and the conclusions to which they had been led. 
Much has already been written on the great eruption of Pelee, and the havoc it 
vu’ought in St. Pierre, but mostly from a popular point of view, and without reference 
* ‘ Comptes Eendus,’ vols. cxxxiv. and cxxxv. 
