The Volcanic Eruption in Dominica

ON Sunday, January 4, shortly after eleven o'clock in the morning, a volcanic eruption occurred in the Grande Soufrière district of Dominica. This district is situated near to the centre of the southern third of the island; and before the late eruption its volcanic energy was manifested by the action of four solfotaras and by the Boiling Lake. During the morning of January 4, the weather in the town of Roseau—the capital of the island, was cool and showery; but shortly before eleven o'clock the sky became overcast and heavy rain began to fall, accompanied with thunder and lightning. Soon afterwards the sky darkened, the rain poured in torrents; a powerful odour of sulphuretted hydrogen pervaded the atmosphere; the lightning increased in vividness; and thunder of a peculiar sound, and without the usual reverberation, crashed for several minutes with intermissions of so short a duration as to be scarcely recognisable. After the lapse of about five minutes the darkness began to lift, and it was then seen that the rain was bringing down volcanic ash of a light greyish Colour and metallic lustre. The ash fell for about nine minutes, covering the ground to the extent of a quarter of an inch, and during the time everything had a dull leaden aspect, whilst the mud rolled off the houses and the leaves of the trees like big globules of partially oxidised mercury. During the time the ash was falling I noted that the barometer indicated a pressure of 30.10 inches, and a few hours afterwards the mercury fell to 29.96 inches. The Roseau River, which rises near to the volcanic district, became a raging torrent, flooding the land through which it passed and creating great destruction; its water became of an opaque white colour, and even now, more than three weeks after the eruption, the white colour remains, though in a lesser degree. It is worthy of notice that the greater body of water came from the vicinity of the eruption, for the lower tributaries of the Roseau River were very little swollen.