134 
THE GEYSERS. 
ceased running during the whole time of my stay. 
My guide, however, had informed me that some¬ 
times the eruptions of this spring were very 
violent, and even more remarkable than those 
of the Geyser, and it was on this account that 
he had placed the tents so close to it. At half 
past nine, whilst I was employed in examining 
some plants gathered the day before, I was sur¬ 
prised by a tremendously loud and rushing noise, 
like that arising from the fall of a great cascade, 
immediately at my feet. On putting aside the 
canvass of mv tent, to observe what could have 
occasioned it, 1 saw within a hundred yards of 
me a column of water rising perpendicularly into 
the air, from the place just mentioned, to a vast 
height; but what this height might be l was so 
overpowered by my feelings, that I did not, for 
some time, think of endeavouring to ascertain. 
In my first impulse I hastened only to look for 
my portfolio, that I might attempt, at least, to re¬ 
present upon paper what no words could possibly 
give an adequate idea of; but in this I found 
myself nearly as much at a loss as if I had taken 
my pen for the purpose of describing it, and I 
was obliged to satisfy myself with very little more 
than the outline and proportional dimensions of 
this most magnificent fountain. There was, how¬ 
ever, sufficient time allowed me to make observa¬ 
tions; for, during the space of an hour and 
