eing excited by this
phenomenon, we inquired from our guides into its cause, and were
informed that the mountain in question was a volcano, and that at
its base and along its sides were hot springs of water, of a
temperature sufficient to boil an egg in three minutes. This
piece of intelligence confirmed me in my former opinion relative
to the operative cause in the production of these islands;
though, indeed, had such evidence been wanting, I should have
equally concluded, either that they were thrown up, in their
present form, from the bottom of the sea, or at least that they
were torn asunder from one another by the force of fire. It must
be confessed, however, that mine is the opinion of one who has
devoted little of his attention to geology; but I would by all
means advise the disciples of Werner to come hither, if they
desire further helps in the prosecution of that very interesting
and practically useful study.

Chapter V.

DESCENDING the mountain, on which we had paused for a few minutes
to feast our eyes and satisfy our curiosity, we arrived at a
small hamlet, or rather a group of two or three hovels, as
romantically situated as it is possible for the imagination of
man to conceive. They stood at the further end of a sort of
recess, formed by the hills, which are here broken into a
circular valley, cut off, to all appearance, from the rest of the
habitable world; behind them rose a towering crag, as
perpendicular as the drop of a plummet, from the top of which a
little rivulet came tumbling down, giving to the scene an
appearance of the most delightful coolness, and amusing the ear
with the unceasing roar of a waterfall. From the very face of
the cliff, where there seemed to be scarcely soil enough to
nourish a thistle, numerous shrubs and dwarf trees protruded
themselves; whilst above it, and on every side of the area, the
hills were covered with wood, interrupted now and then by the
bald forehead of a blackened rock. In front of the hamlet again,
there was an opening sufficient to admit the most delicious
glimpse of the ocean; and through this the stream, after boiling
for awhile in a little basin, which it has excavated for itself
out of what resembles the foundation of the cliff, makes its way,
brawling over a clear pebbly bottom, till it joins the sea.

This paragon of valleys burst upon us as such scenes, to be
witnessed with advantage, ought to do, without the slightest
warning or expec