e crater, a vast depression of over a league in circumference, and
1,000 feet in depth.

SULPHUR FROM THE CRATER

Flame was issuing from the hideous abysses, and the stoutest man's heart
must have quailed as he peered down into the dim, mysterious cavity to
where the sloping sides were crusted with bright yellow sulphur, and
listened to the mutterings which warned him of the pent-up wrath and
power of the mighty volcano. They knew that at any moment flame and
stifling sulphurous vapor might be belched forth, but now no cowardice
was shown. They had come provided with ropes and baskets, and it only
remained to see who should descend. Lots were therefore drawn, and
it fell to Montano, who was accordingly lowered by his followers in a
basket 400 feet into the treacherous region of eternal fires.

The basket swayed and the rope quivered and vibrated, but the brave
cavalier sturdily held to his task, disdaining to show fear before his
humble companions. The lurid light from beneath flashed upon his tanned
features, and a sulphurous steam rose slowly and condensed upon the
sides; but, whatever were his thoughts, the Spaniard collected as
much sulphur as he could take up with him, breaking off the bright
incrustations, and even dallying with his task as if in contempt of
the danger, till he had leisurely filed his basket, when the signal was
given and he was drawn up. The basket was emptied, and then he once more
descended into the lurid crater, collected another store and was again
drawn up; but far from shrinking from his task, he descended again
several times, till a sufficiency had been obtained, with which the
party descended to the plain.

THE VOLCANO JORULLO

No further back than the middle of the eighteenth century the site of
Jorullo was a level plain, including several highly-cultivated fields,
which formed the farm of Don Pedro di Jorullo. The plain was watered
by two small rivers, called Cuitimba and San Pedro, and was bounded by
mountains composed of basalt--the only indications of former volcanic
action. These fields were well irrigated, and among the most fertile in
the country, producing abundant crops of sugar-cane and indigo.

In the month of June, 1759, the cultivators of the farm began to
be disturbed by strange subterranean noises of an alarming kind,
accompanied by frequent shocks of earthquake, which continued for nearly
a couple of months; but they afterward entirely ceased, so that the
i