SOUFEIEEE, AND ON A VISIT TO MONTAGNE PELEE, IN 1902. 
537 
“ 1867.—On November 18th Grenada gave proof of her volcanic origin and tendencies. Between 
5 and 5.20 o’clock p.m. the sea, having been previously very calm, a sudden subsidence of the waters in 
the St. George’s Harbour took place, the sea falling about 5 feet, and exposing the reef in front of 
the lagoon and the adjacent shores. In a few seconds, with a slight rumbling noise, the water over 
the ‘ Green Hole ’ (a spot between the old watering pipe for ships known as the ‘ Spout ’ and the 
opposite point on the north) began to boil and emit sulphurous vapour. This part of the harbour, 
it should be remarked, was, in the days of the French settlement, an excellent anchorage and careening 
ground, but there was, at the time of this eruption, as there is now, hardly 3 feet of water on it, showing 
that there has since been an upheaval of the land in that vicinity. Immediately after this ebullition 
of the ‘ Green Hole ’ the sea in the harbour rose rapidly to about 4 feet over its normal high-water 
mark, and rushed violently up to the head of the carenage. The phenomenon was three or four 
times repeated, and great damage was done to buildings and boats, but no lives were lost. The 
mason work of the ‘ Spout,’ which projects into the sea, was completely demolished, presenting the 
appearance of having been twisted round in a whirlpool, and the ‘ Green Hole,’ which was very deep, 
was completely filled up. 
“ The wave was experienced along the western seaboard as far north as the town of Gouyave, where 
it appears to have attained its maximum dimensions, rising so high at Dougalston Estate as to cover 
the bridge at the mouth of the river and inundate the adjoining cane fields. 
“ At 9 P.M. there was a shock of earthquake, and another at 1 A.M. on the following morning, 
the motion being perpendicular in both cases. 
“ It should be noted, in connection with this eriq^tion, that at 2.40 p.m. on the same day, at the 
island of St. Thomas, there was a severe earthquake, followed by an enormous tidal wave, fully 50 feet 
high, and that there was concurrently a volcanic outbreak at the neighboming island of Little Saba, 
which emitted smoke and lava.” 
Though both the writers of the original articles and of the handbook appear to 
liave thotight that the disturbance referred to was due to some volcanic action in or 
about the Green Hole, it is clear to anyone carefully reading the records or the above 
summary that the actual fact was a tidal wave originating in the neighbourhood of 
Little Saba and St. Thomas, and affecting in a less degree the shores of the island of 
Grenada. 
The harbour of St. George was really less severely affected than other parts. The 
Green Hole is probably a submerged cave extending some distance underground, and 
the water in it rushed out when the level of the water in the carenage was lowered 
by the tidal wave. It is almost inconceivable that a volcanic outburst should have 
taken place from the Green Hole at the exact moment when the water in the 
carenage was lowered, and yet have ceased so suddenly as to have allowed the hole 
to be filled up by the action of the waves which followed immediately afterwards. 
If the temperature of the water had been taken by a thermometer, as was done by 
Major Bayly on a subsequent occasion, we have no doubt the cause would have been 
found the same in both cases. 
The Disturbances of June 6th, 1902. —Incjuiries on the spot from Major Bayly, 
Chief of Police, whose office overlooked the carenage opposite the entrance of the 
lagoon, and Mr. Bichard Heard, Superintendent of the Prison, which is situated 
on the top of a hill on the opposite side of the lagoon, and whose house commands 
VOL. CC.- A. 3 Z 
