SOUFPJERE, AFTD OX A VISIT TO MONTAGXE PELEE, IN 1902. 
5-35 
Tlie minor earthquakes are local, and more probably due to tlie changes beneath 
the volcano before an outburst takes place. It is significant in this respect that on 
July 9th, though there was no discharge from the crater of the Soufriere, that 
mountain showed its sympathy with the eruption in Martinique by means of strong 
earthquake shocks. 
No earthquakes of great violence have been experienced this year in Martinique, 
St. Vincent, and St. Lucia, though small shocks were frequent. In Trinidad the 
Milne seismograph in the Botanic Gardens has shown none but small disturbances. 
In Montserrat, since the year 1896, earthquakes have been very frequent; in 
fact, it is said that they have been of almost daily occurrence, and in some cases as 
many as 100 have been counted in one day.t 
It is apparently a matter of indifference which of the volcanoes of the chain is in 
o 2 :)eration ; one ajDjDears to he able to function in place of the others. The jirevious 
eruptions of lire SoufriMe and Montague Pelee did not coincide in ^roint of time, and 
that both have this year been in violent action further ^U'oves the unusual magnitude 
of the changes in progress in that part of the earth’s crust. 
Nowhere along the Caribbean islands have changes of level been jjroved to have 
taken place iqron the coasts. Sensational paragraphs have been irublished I'egarding 
alterations in the soundings, but they are jrrobably unreliable. The finquent 
ruptures of the submarine cables, however, are sufficient to prove that there has 
been disturbance on the sea bottom. 
Concomitant Activity in the Adjacent Islands. 
In the other islands of the Lesser Antilles there has been remarkably little 
disturbance. In St. Lucia, which lies between Martinique and St. Vincent, and 
which contains a volcano—Qualibou—which is said to have been erupted in 1776, 
jiothiug unusual has been noted, except a slightly increased activity at the Soufriere 
in the south end of the island. 
It is j3ossible also, as will be seen from the following rejjort by Major Hodder, B.E., 
that some submarine activity has taken jjlace off Castries. He writes ;— 
“On Friday, the 9th instant, about 12 noon, I observed two huge white patches on the sea, bearing 
about 294° from the Garrison Office at Morne Fortune. They were at a distance (estimated by vaiious 
persons) of 8,000 to 10,000 yards. These patches remained in the same position in sight till about 
1..30 P.M., when they disappeared. At first I considered they were floating pumice-stone, l)ut soon came 
to a different conclusion when I saw they did not shift their position to any extent; besides, they gave 
the appearance of bubbling. The patches were irregular in shape, but approximating to oval. The large 
patch was perhaps 150 yards long and 100 in diameter; the smaller one, say 100 long and 60 in diameter. 
They were distant from each other by about half a mile. 
* Botanical Department, Trinidad, ‘Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information,’-July, 1902, p. 450. 
i Emil Deckert, “ Die Westindische Vuikankatastrophe und ihre Schaupliitze,” ‘ Zeitsch. d. Gesell. 
fill' Erdkunde. Berlin,’ 1902, p. 420. 
