DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0347
ERUPTION OF THE SOUFFRIER MOUNTAIN. 315
gularly melodious notes of a bird, an inhabitant of these
upper solitudes, and altogether unknown to the other parts
of the island: hence principally called, or supposed to be,
invisible; though it certainly has been seen, and is a species
of the merle.
A century had now elapsed since the last convulsion of
the mountain, or since any other elements had disturbed the
serenity of this wilderness than those which are common to
the tropical tempest. It apparently slumbered in primeval
solitude and tranquillity, and from the luxuriant vegetation
and growth of the forest which covered its sides from the
base nearly to the summit, seemed to discountenance the
fact, and falsify the records of the ancient volcano. Such
was the majestic, peaceful Souffrier on April the 27th; but
we trod on “ ignem repositum cineri doloso,” and our ima-
ginary safety was soon to be confounded by the sudden dan-
ger of devastation.
Just as the plantation bells rang twelve at noon on Mon-
day the 27th, an abrupt and dreadful crash from the moun-
tain, with a severe concussion of the earth, and tremulous
noise in the air, alarmed all around it. The resurrection of
this fiery furnace was proclaimed in a moment by a vast co-
lumn of thick, black, ropy smoke, like that of an immense
glass-house, bursting forth at once, and mounting to the
sky; showering down sand with gritty calcined particles of
earth and favilla mixed, on all below. This, driven before
the wind towards Wallibon and Morne Ronde, darkened the
air like a cataract of rain, and covered the ridges, woods,
and cane-pieces with light grey coloured ashes, resembling
snow when slightly covered with dust. As the eruption in-
creased this continual shower expanded, destroying every ap-
pearance of vegetation. At night a very considerable de-
gree of ignition was observed on the lips of the crater; but
it is not asserted, that there was as yet any visible ascension
of flame. The same awful scene presented itself on Tues-
s s 2
gularly melodious notes of a bird, an inhabitant of these
upper solitudes, and altogether unknown to the other parts
of the island: hence principally called, or supposed to be,
invisible; though it certainly has been seen, and is a species
of the merle.
A century had now elapsed since the last convulsion of
the mountain, or since any other elements had disturbed the
serenity of this wilderness than those which are common to
the tropical tempest. It apparently slumbered in primeval
solitude and tranquillity, and from the luxuriant vegetation
and growth of the forest which covered its sides from the
base nearly to the summit, seemed to discountenance the
fact, and falsify the records of the ancient volcano. Such
was the majestic, peaceful Souffrier on April the 27th; but
we trod on “ ignem repositum cineri doloso,” and our ima-
ginary safety was soon to be confounded by the sudden dan-
ger of devastation.
Just as the plantation bells rang twelve at noon on Mon-
day the 27th, an abrupt and dreadful crash from the moun-
tain, with a severe concussion of the earth, and tremulous
noise in the air, alarmed all around it. The resurrection of
this fiery furnace was proclaimed in a moment by a vast co-
lumn of thick, black, ropy smoke, like that of an immense
glass-house, bursting forth at once, and mounting to the
sky; showering down sand with gritty calcined particles of
earth and favilla mixed, on all below. This, driven before
the wind towards Wallibon and Morne Ronde, darkened the
air like a cataract of rain, and covered the ridges, woods,
and cane-pieces with light grey coloured ashes, resembling
snow when slightly covered with dust. As the eruption in-
creased this continual shower expanded, destroying every ap-
pearance of vegetation. At night a very considerable de-
gree of ignition was observed on the lips of the crater; but
it is not asserted, that there was as yet any visible ascension
of flame. The same awful scene presented itself on Tues-
s s 2