EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES. 
399 
* 
tastic in shape and capricious in position, which form the 
walls of the orifice. Thick whorls of smoke drifted up 
from all sides, so that at times I was unable to distin¬ 
guish my companion, distant only a few yards. An inde¬ 
scribable magnetic influence or fascination seemed to 
rivet our eyes on the molten floods surging below us, and 
which, from their roar and vibrations, seemed to threaten 
momentarily to rise and overwhelm us, as if the volcano 
were on the verge of eruption. 
“ Our contemplations of this fearful orifice were there¬ 
fore brief, the smoke and odor overpowered us ; and 
in a few moments we were forced to abandon our posi- 
Volcan de Coseguina, from the Sea. 
tions and seek a breath of pure air at a distance. We 
returned rapidly to the place where we had left our guide ; 
and casting a farewell glance over the strange area before 
us ? commenced our descent, reaching San Miguel at six 
o’clock in the evening, weary and exhausted.” 
Of the eruptions of the Central American volcanoes 
none in the historical period have surpassed that of Cose¬ 
guina in 1835. This mountain forms the eastern gate- 
ward of the Gulf of Fonseca, Conchagua rising on the 
other side of the rather narrow entrance. Not remarka¬ 
bly high (3,600 feet), it rises directly from the sea, and 
by its irregular outline, scarred slopes, and desolate 
