DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0154
134 ktrby’s wonderful museum.
the basin, and it was then hardly one-fourth full. The water
was gently moved; and in some little hollows at the bottom
of the basin it had the appearance of ebbing and flowing.
About five minutes after, while we were collecting specimens
on the edge of the basin, and expecting nothing, three jets
took place, none of which exceeded thirty feet in height. In
the same manner, at a quarter past eight o’clock, jets were
thrown up repeatedly during the space of three minutes, one
of which was above forty feet high. After these casual jets
the water did not sink, but remained in about three-fourths of
the basin. Sir John Stanley mentions his having been sur-
prised by similar unexpected jets ; and we must take this op-
portunity of advising travellers, who may wish to see the
Geyser, not to be rash in going into the basin while the wa-
ter is rising, as an opportunity of safely gratifying their curi-
osity will always occur immediately after every great exertion
of the fountain.
We pitched our tent at the distance of about one hundred
yards from the Geyser, and having arranged matters so that a
regular watch might be kept during the night, I went to my
station at eleven o’clock, and my companions lay down to
sleep. About ten minutes before twelve, I heard subter-
raneous discharges, and waked my friends. The water in the
basin was greatly agitated, and flowed over, but there was no
jet. The same occurred at half past two. At five minutes
past four, on Saturday morning, an alarm was given by Mr.
Bright. As I lay next the door of the tent, I instantly drew
aside the canvas, when at a distance of little more than fifty
yards, a most extraordinary and magnificent appearance pre-
sented itself. From a place we had not before noticed, we
saw water thrown up, and steam issuing with a tremendous
noise. There was little water; but the force with which the
steam escaped, produced a white column of spray and vapour
at least sixty feet high. We enjoyed this astonishing and
beautiful sight till seven o’clock, when it gradually disappear-
the basin, and it was then hardly one-fourth full. The water
was gently moved; and in some little hollows at the bottom
of the basin it had the appearance of ebbing and flowing.
About five minutes after, while we were collecting specimens
on the edge of the basin, and expecting nothing, three jets
took place, none of which exceeded thirty feet in height. In
the same manner, at a quarter past eight o’clock, jets were
thrown up repeatedly during the space of three minutes, one
of which was above forty feet high. After these casual jets
the water did not sink, but remained in about three-fourths of
the basin. Sir John Stanley mentions his having been sur-
prised by similar unexpected jets ; and we must take this op-
portunity of advising travellers, who may wish to see the
Geyser, not to be rash in going into the basin while the wa-
ter is rising, as an opportunity of safely gratifying their curi-
osity will always occur immediately after every great exertion
of the fountain.
We pitched our tent at the distance of about one hundred
yards from the Geyser, and having arranged matters so that a
regular watch might be kept during the night, I went to my
station at eleven o’clock, and my companions lay down to
sleep. About ten minutes before twelve, I heard subter-
raneous discharges, and waked my friends. The water in the
basin was greatly agitated, and flowed over, but there was no
jet. The same occurred at half past two. At five minutes
past four, on Saturday morning, an alarm was given by Mr.
Bright. As I lay next the door of the tent, I instantly drew
aside the canvas, when at a distance of little more than fifty
yards, a most extraordinary and magnificent appearance pre-
sented itself. From a place we had not before noticed, we
saw water thrown up, and steam issuing with a tremendous
noise. There was little water; but the force with which the
steam escaped, produced a white column of spray and vapour
at least sixty feet high. We enjoyed this astonishing and
beautiful sight till seven o’clock, when it gradually disappear-