an explofion, we-always faw a new quantity of. vapours and fleams
pierce thefe fpiracula, which are apparently fhut up, but feem to
-have a cavity underneath; for the whole mountain gave a hollow
found, when we were-walking on the footpath leading to thefe fol-
fataras j and I likewife traced a train o f thefe fpiracula, both above
and below on the fides o f this hill, as far as within a few yards o f
the hot wells. I faw the iolfataras three times. Th e fecond time
I took my thermometer- with me, and having dug a hole about a
foot deep, I hung the thermometer in it by the ribbon on its top, to
a flick laid acrofs the hole; and I faw it rife from 80° in a few fe-
conds to 170°: having left the thermometer for four minutes in.
the hole, I found it flill at 170“, and though I repeated this at
one minute’s interval, .three times-, the mercury was flil-1 at the fame
degree. When I took it out, it fell in a fecond’s time to 160°,'and
gradually lower. In my cabin on board the fhip, it flood at 78°;
having been carried clofe to my body up the hill, by a long afcent,
it rofe to 87” j I hung it therefore in the open air, in the fhadè o f a
tree on the hill, about twenty yards from the fmoaking place, for
about five minutes,-and found it to Hand at 80°, and to remain at the
fame height for a long while after. When I was digging the hole
for the reception o f the thermometer, the natives feemed uneafy,
and were apprehenfive the place would be on fire. This happened
on Augufl the 12th at about ten o’clock in the morning.
I went up again on Augufl the- 1.4th in the' forenoon, and re- spri ngs.
peated the experiment with this difference only, that we. entirely
huried the thermometer, in the hole, by putting loofe earth round
it. It had flood that day in my cabin at 78% on the hill at 8o°j
but after having been buried a minute, it rofe to. 210° and there
it remained flationary for five minutes. As I could trace the fpiracula
o f hot fleams, blended with fome fulphureous fmell, all
along the fide o f the h ill, down to the hot wells; i-t is probable;
that a flream o f water,, in a fubterraneous chafm or crevice, coming
too near one of the places, that are violently heated by the neighbouring
volcano, is- refolved in to ' fleams, and- forced through the.
earth and Hones ; parts-of it however feem again to gather fome,
where in fmall flreams;. oozing out at the hot wells, clofe to
the fea-fide. I am even apt to believe,, that this chafm or crevice
is connefted with, the crater of the-volcano::.for on. Augufl the
11 th, when the volcano was heard making great explofions; and
feen throwing up. very large maffes o f Hones, ignited afhes, and
immenfe clouds o f thick finoke, we-obferved on the hill, that at
eacb explofion, there, came new quantities of Hearn, through the
fpiracula..
At.the. bottom.of the harbour near the beach, is a fmall pond
containing fome frefh and palatable water; it is tinged fomewhat
hr own i f f and though perfectly, good when frefh, i t foancontrafffd
in.