242 
DR. DAVY’S ACCOUNT OF A NEW VOLCANO 
in a few minutes the vapour was dispersed by the wind, so that we were able 
to see, and hasten to a distance. We found ourselves completely wetted with 
salt vapour or spray, and covered with wet ashes, of which I had no difficulty 
in collecting a sufficient quantity for examination. After this we returned on 
board. 
Both in coming from the brig and nearing the volcano, and in returning, I 
paid attention to the temperature of the sea, and ascertained it by the thermo¬ 
meter. At 10 a.m., when we entered the boat, at the distance of two or three 
miles from the volcano, the sea at the surface was 80°, which is about the ave¬ 
rage temperature of this part of the Mediterranean in the month of August. 
To windward, as we approached the volcano, the temperature of the surface 
varied from 79°to 78°; to leeward, it was lower; when within about twenty 
yards of the volcano, it fell to 70°; and when nearest, within six or eight yards, 
it was 72°. On leaving it, the temperature gradually rose; when about a mile 
from it, to leeward, and still in turbid water, it was 76°; a little beyond this 
the water suddenly became clear, and the thermometer immersed in it rose to 
79°. This low temperature of the water, close to an active volcano, is not 
what might be expected at first, and it appears paradoxical. It is probably 
owing to one or both of two things; either to the fall of cinders and ashes 
into the sea, projected so high as to be cooled in their ascent, bringing down 
with them the low temperature of the upper air; or, to the concussions from 
the eruptions throwing up cold water from the bottom of the sea. This latter 
supposition is so much the more probable, as there was a pretty rapid current 
flowing by the island at the time, the necessary effect of which must have been 
to prevent the accumulation of heat. 
The whole of the night of the 5th we remained off the volcano, and in the 
evening and the early part of the night we witnessed some considerable erup¬ 
tions. The reports attending them were much louder than in the morning; 
some of them resembling the reports of heavy artillery, and others the dis¬ 
charge of muskets ; these latter were solitary, and occurred at intervals. The 
fire was very distinct in the darkness ; but even when brightest, the ashes and 
cinders thrown up seldom exceeded a dull red heat. Twice or thrice I saw 
small masses shoot up, of a glowing white heat; but I was doubtful, at the 
moment, whether the effect was from electrical light or ignited matter. As 
