IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. 
239 
This is a very brief sketch of the progress and present state of the volcano. 
From its commencement till now, I have not been able to ascertain that any¬ 
thing remarkable has occurred in the adjoining volcanic regions. At Schiacca, 
it was stated that the hot sulphureous springs at one time had become cold, 
and at another had ceased to flow ; but I believe this was merely idle rumour; 
the truth of it has been denied by persons who had opportunities of being accu¬ 
rately informed. It was also stated, that at the Commencement of the appear¬ 
ance of the volcano, Etna was more active than usual, and that severe earth¬ 
quakes were felt at Catania. The occurrence of shocks of earthquakes has 
been confirmed, but not the increased activity of the mountain; on the con¬ 
trary, I have been assured that it then emitted less than its ordinary quantity 
of smoke. The volcano of Stromboli, I have been informed, exhibited its 
usual appearance, and nothing uncommon is reported to have occurred in any 
other of the Lipari Islands. 
Reflecting on the peculiar situation of the n6w volcano, many miles distant 
from land, and rising out of a comparatively deep sea, I indulged in the hope 
that, by a careful examination of the phenomena of its eruption, some informa¬ 
tion of a satisfactory kind, either positive or negative, might be obtained re¬ 
specting the cause to which it owed its origin, and respecting the causes of 
volcanos generally. 
I shall now give the observations which I made, with this object in view, 
on the 5th of August, when, through the kindness of Captain Wodehouse, I 
visited the volcano in the vessel under his command. The volcano that day 
was in a state favourable for the purpose; it was rather more active than 
usual; dense white vapour was constantly rising from it, and, at uncertain 
periods, about every two or three hours, explosions took place, and immense 
volumes of white vapour, mixed with, and sometimes obscured by ashes and 
cinders, were thrown out and projected to a great height, but without any 
appearance of fire. 
To observe the phenomena more closely, we quitted the brig, which lay-to 
about two or three miles off, and proceeded towards the volcano in a boat. 
This was about ten o’clock a.m., when the volcano was most active. We fir§t 
approached it to windward, to have an opportunity of observing narrowly the 
appearances. The wind being fresh, the ashes and cinders fell principally on 
2 i 2 
