200 
KREISEVIG. 
substance, the spring, that we were now ap¬ 
proaching, produced the greatest quantity, and 
the finest specimens, I believe, in the island. 
We rode some way till the softness of the earth 
beneath caused the horses to sink too deep to 
render it prudent to continue that mode any 
longer, and we therefore left our steeds, proceed¬ 
ing onwards, as far as it was by any means safe 
to venture, with the utmost caution. The ap¬ 
pearance of the surface is often very deceitful; 
for, when it seems most firm, a thin indurated 
crust of crystalized sulphur * ** and bolus not un¬ 
commonly conceals a considerable mass of the 
* Volcanic soils in many parts of the world produce sul¬ 
phur in greater or less quantities. I have not, however, 
read of its being found any where in such abundance as in 
the province of Satzuma, in Japan. f< It is dug up,” says 
Kampfer, in his history of that singular country, “ in a small 
island which, from the great plenty it affords of this sub- 
stance, is called Iwogasima, or the Sulphur Island. It is 
not above an hundred years since the natives first ventured 
thither. It was thought before that time to be wholly 
** inaccessible, and by reason of the thick smoke, which was 
<f observed continually to arise from it, and of the several 
tx spectres, and other frightful uncommon apparitions, peo- 
“ pie fancied to see there chiefly in the night, it was believed 
u to be a dwelling-place of devils, till at last a resolute and 
courageous man offered himself, and obtained leave ac- 
‘ f cordingly to go and examine the state and situation of it. 
He chose fifty resolute fellows for this expedition, who upon 
(< going on shore found neither hell nor devils, but a large flat 
