Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-19
The Boiling Lake of Dominica.

Mr.. William Clifford Palgrave, the
Arabian traveller, British Consul, and
English novelist, always finds some
thing interesting to write about, IN
whatever part of the world he may
be. His narrative of the journey into
Central Arabia, which made him IA
nous, is, perhaps, the very best OF
modern books Of travel. He has not
only the spirit Of an explorer, geo.
orapher, and man of science, but al
so the romantic imagination which
could give US such story as Her
man Agha," where the glow and fer
vor of life in the East are so wonder
fully mixed with its tragic realities.
His observations. while Consul at
Trebizonde, on the classic southern
shore of the Black Sea, gave him the
material for his valuable essays on
the Eastern question. More recently
he has held the British Consulate at
St. Thomas, in the West Indies, anu
he is now on his way thence, hall
around the world, to the Philippine
Islands, where he is to represent the
Queens Government as Consul at
Manila. While in the West Indies he
did not cease to travel and to learn
all he could, consistently with his
official duties; and among the places
which he CHANGED to visit was one OF
the most singular and remarkable
lakes on the surface of the earth
In the summer of 1875 the scientific
world was surprised and interested to
learn that lake of constantly boiling
water had been discovered upon or
near the summit Of the mountainous
West Indian island Of Dominica. But
where was Dominica? 1t is not to ee
wondered at that this question was
asked both in England and America.
The fact that the negro nation which
occupies the Eeastern portion OF the
great Island Of San Domingo or Haytl
calls itself the Dominican Republic
naturally led to the supposltlon that
this might be the island meant. 1t
was in reality, however, another and
very different one, the Hottest OF the
Lesser Antilles, British colony lying
between the French islands OF 'Gaude'
loape and Martinique, and which, IN
stead of being as large as Ireland,
contains only about three hundred
square miles. Here, we were told,
a boiling lake high among the noun
tains. and hitherto unknown to man
1t was not mere collection of geysers
or hot springs, but an expanse Of
water large enough to deserve the
name of lake, and its presence ex'
planned the cloud Of white vapor SC
often seen floating over the higher
parts of the island.
Last summer this lake was visited
by Mr.. Palgrave, and he has now
contributed to Macmillan's Magazine
the first detailed description of it Civ
en- to the general public. 1t seem'
certain that the lake was never seer
by any European prior to the month
Of January, 1875, and probably it haf
never been seen by any native Ira
ditions pointed to its existence, bu
these appear to be based upon th,
fact that stream of warm and milk.
; water, known as the Sulpher river
rushes head-long from the highland
down to the sea, and boiling sonrc
seemed necessary to account for tn
, heat of its waves. This, however
might have had its origin in one 0
the so-called soufriers, so abundan
in the volcanic islands of the Yves
Indies, consisting of the floors Q
some dying crater, whore tepid, hot
! or boiling springs give forth steam
gases, and occasionally lofty jets o
water. Indeed, it turned ont that th
boiling lake was situated in a soufrl
ere the most active and extensive i
the entire Archipelago. Two expedi
tons to this region bad preceded
that Of Mr.. Palgrave, who was for
tunate in having for companion an
! guide Dr. Nichols, a young medIcs
i, officer of the colony, and one OF IN
! original party of discovery.
The starting place IS Roseau, th
D principal town of Dominica, on tn
D south coast. Hence you ride up Tn
|. valley on pom. TO hamlet l,50
g feet above The sea. Beyond this ID
/. work is all on foot, first through IN