now about half way down, but all the rest of the way seemed a perpendicular precipice, which it was impossible to pass; the top of the mountain was yet a great way off, and there was no other resource than to attempt the ridge they had' left.

The evening was now so far advanced, that they were obliged to take up their residence where they were; and there was only time to place two or three sticks against the stump of a tree, and slightly to cover them with plantain leaves, for a night's habitation. Their situation was extremely uncomfortable; for it began to rain and blow violently, which prevented them from mak ing a fire, and almost chilled them with cold. At break of day they renewed their work with great alacrity; in a short time they had the satisfaction to perceive the woods become thin; and about eleven o'clock they obtained a full view of the top, about a mile distant. It seemed to be composed of six or seven ridges, very much broken in the sides, as if they had suffered great convul sions, and they were also divided by excessively deep raving without any water in them.

Mr.

Anderson directed his course towards a high peak that overlooked a large excavation where the ridges met, and which he supposed to be the' crater of the volcano. In his way he found the last wood composed of a most beautiful species of trees; and he then entered into a thick long grass, intermixed with fern, which branched and ran in every direction. Through this they were obliged to cut their way with almost as much difficulty as they had done through the woods, and it seemed to continue very near to the top of the mountain. The fatigue of this work soon reduced

them to such a situation, that they were scarcely able to stand; and they were obliged to quench their thirst by chewing some leaves, there being po water to be had in the place. Two of the

negroes now returned, and the rest refused to proceed any farther; so that Mr. Anderson himself was obliged to abandon his enterprize for the present, and they all began to descend about half an hour after twelve; at sun-set they arrived at M. Gasco's, and notwithstanding his extreme weariness, our author continued his journey to Mr. Maloune's, which is about a mile distant from the foot of the mountain.

Having refreshed himself till the 4th of March, in order to sustain the fatigues of his journey the better, our traveller set out about four in the morning, in company with a Mr. Fraser, who had resolved to go with him. They met with little difficulty till they came to the place whence they had formerly returned. Here, however, they were obliged for a quarter of a mile to cut their way through the grass and ferns beforementioned; which being done, they met with no further obstruction. When they came within a quarter of a mile of the top, they found the climate suddenly altered, the air being extremely cold, and the whole summit of the mountain barren. On the confines of the barren region, however, our author found some beautiful plants, and he observes, that this is the only place in the West Indies where he ever found moss; but here it grew in such plenty that he frequently sunk in it up to his knees.

About noon they reached the summit, and were instantly surprised with the sight of a most extraordinary cavity, It is situated in the very

centre of the mountain, at the place where all the ridges meet. Its diameter is somewhat more than a mile, and its circumference to appearance a perfect circle. Its depth from the surrounding margin is above a quarter of a mile, and it narrows a little, but very regularly, to the bottom. Its sides are very smooth, and for the most part covered with short moss, except towards the south, where there are a number of small holes and fissures. This is the only place where it is possible to go down to the bottom, and here the descent is very dangerous, on account of the numberless small chasms. On the west side is a section of a red rock like granite, cut very smooth, and having the same declivity with the other parts. All the rest of the surrounding sides seem to be composed of sand which has undergone the action of an intense fire. It has a crust quite smooth, and about an inch thick, almost as hard as rock; on breaking through which, nothing appears but loose sand. In the centre stands a burning mountain, about a mile in circumference, and of a conić. form, but quite level. Out of the middle of the' summit rises a small eminence, eight or ten feet high, and perfectly conical; from the apex of which a column of smoke constantly issues. It is composed of large masses of red granite-like rock' of various shapes and sizes, which appear to have been split into their present forms by some terrible convulsion of nature.

Great quantities of smoke issue from most parts of the mountain, especially on the north side, which appears to be burning from top to bottom; and the heat is so intense, that it is impossible to aseend it. It is even dangerous to go round the base, as large masses of rock are constantly split

ting with the heat, and tumbling down. At the bottom, on the north side, is a very large rock split asunder each of the halves which are rent in all directions, are separated to a considerable distance from each other, and the crevices have glossy efflorescences tasting like vitriol. There are also some beautiful crystallizations of sulphur; and on all parts of the mountain are great quantities of sulphur, alum, vitriol, &c.

From the external appearance of this mountain, Mr. Anderson conjectures, that it had but lately began to burn; as on several parts of it, he saw small shrubs and grass which seemed to have been but recently scorched and burnt: there were also several holes on the south, from which smoke issued, that appeared to have broken out but lately, the adjacent bushes being but lately burnt.

On two opposite sides of the burning mountain are two lakes of water, about a stone's throw in breadth they appear to be deep in the middle, and have a bottom of a kind of clay. The water is a chalybeate, and has a pleasant taste. These lakes probably derive their existence in a great measure, if not totally, from the rain water running down the sides of the crater. On the north side, our author observed the traces of great torrents, which to appearance had conveyed vast quantities of water to these lakes; and by the stones at the bottom he could perceive that absorption or evaporation, or both, went on very fast. The greater part of the bottom of the crater was remarkably level; and on the south side were some shrubs and small trees. Some pieces of pumice stone were met with; and many stones, about the size of a man's fist, rough and blue

upon one side, were scattered all over the moun tain.

The motion of the clouds on the top of this mountain was very singular. Though there were several parts higher than the crater, yet the clouds seemed always to be attracted by the latter. After entering on its windward side, they sunk a considerable way into it; then mounting the opposite side, and whirling round toward the north-west, they ran along a ridge which tended nearly north-east, and afterwards sunk into a deep ravin, dividing this ridge from another on the north-west corner of the mountain, and the highest on it, lying in a direction nearly north and south. The clouds kept in this ridge to the south end, and then whirled off in their natural direction.

From the situation of these islands to each other, and to the continent of South America, Mr. Anderson conjectures that there are submarine communications between the volcanoes in each of them, and from them to those in the high mountains of South America. He observes, that the crater in this island lies nearly in a line with Souffriere in St. Lucia, and Morne Pelee in Martinico; and probably from thence to a place of the same kind in Dominica, and from thence to the other islands; there being something of the kind in each, Barbadoes and Tobago excepted.

Grenada is the last of the Windward Carib-. bees, and lies about thirty leagues north of New Andalusia on the continent. It is about twentyeight miles long, fifteen broad, and sixty-six in circumference. Several bays and harbours lie around it, some of which might be fortified to great advantage, so that it is very convenient for