The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-15


eight fathoms. which proves that the liquid
matter sometimes rises TO that distance.
STREAM OF BURNING LIQUID.
Upon the northeastern side OF the era
ter is the opening OF a cavern, very deep
and as wide as the range of an srquebus.
A stream OF burning fluid flows into this
cavern, which seems to be the outlet of
the crater. It runs for few months, stops,
then commences again. and so on con-
stantly. There comes forth from this
ern thick smoke, greater than rises from
the whole lake. which dinuses on all sides
very strong odor There comes forth
also a heat and brilnsncy which cannot be
Inscribed. During the night the summit
OF the mountain Is perfectly Illuminated,
as are also the clouds, which seem TO form
a Kind OF tiara above 1t, which may be seen
eighteen or twenty leagues on the land,
and upwards of thirty at sea. The darker
the night the more brilliant the volcano.
Ii is worthy Of remark that neither above
nor below can the least flame be seen, ex-
cept when a stone or arrow is thrown into
the crater. which burns like a candle.
During rains and tempests the vol
cano is most active; for when the storm
reaches its height it makes so many move
ments that one might say Ii was living
thing. The heat is so great that the rain
is turned into vapor before reaching the
bottom OF the crater, and entirely OBJ
scures it, Both Indians and Spaniards af
firm that since the conquest, during very
rainy year, the burning metal rose to the
top of the crater, and that the heat was so
great that everything was burnt for
league around. Such a quantity of burning
vapor came from 1t that the trees and
plants were dried UP for more than two
leagues. Indeed, one cannot behold the
volcano without fear, admiration and re-
pentance OF his sins; for it can be sur
passed only by the eternal fire. Some con-
fessors have imposed no other penance
than to visit this volcano"
Continuing his account of the trip the
lieutenant says that on rounding a pre-
cipitouS promontory to the left, we be-
held the lofty peak OF Momotombo twenty
miles before us its little plume of smoke
and steam floating away to leeWard. AS
we approached we could see cattle grazing
on broad, sloping potretos around its base,
while above a belt of vegetation gradually
diminishing as the altitude increa sed, bare,
precipitous, sulphur stained slopes of ash
rose to the smoking summit. Bubbles of
steam burst at the surface of the lake near
the shore, and dim wreaths of vapor hung
over portions OF the surrounding country,
reminders of the NAL pias or bad lands
| which occur extensively throughout the
Cordillera de los Marabios extending in
| some cases for leagues in every direction.
! The lava currents in places seem to have
] spread out in shoots, flowing elsewhere.
however in high and serpentine ridges, re-
| sem DllnS Cyclopean walls, OFTEN ca
/ priciously inclosing spaces of arabic
! ground, in which vegetation is lux
/ uriant; these are called by the natives
]
! ings in the ground emitting hot air, smoke
! and steam. called infernales, are common
! around the bases of these volcanoes. For
! large spaces the whole ground seems rest
/ ing upon q boiling cauldron, and is en-
crusted with mineral deposits. There are
/ also many places where the ground Is de-
| pressed and bare, resembling a honey
/ combed, ferruginouS clay pit from which
| sulphurous Vapors are constantly rising,
| destroying vegetation in the vicinity, but
! especially to the leeward, where they are
% irI htrf win Il ioh hiT1o
/ is to be seen a these places except kind
/ Of tremulous motion of the heated atmos-
! phere near the surface of the ground. But
/ at night the whole is lighted by Pickering,
/ blush and ethereal flame. like that of burn
/ ing spirits, which spreads at one moment
| over the whole surface. at the next shoots
| up into high spires and then diffuses itself
/ again in a strangely unearthly manner.
/ This is called by the genie del campo the
! people of the fields. la bale de los demon
] ioa, the dance of the DEVILS
Lieutenant Walkers book is interesting
! and instructive. 1t contains much histori-
cal matter, including an account of the i'll
| fated Walker filibustering expedition and a
brief resume of the early history Of Mica
ragua. A revolution was in progress when
! the expedition was surveying the canal
/ route, and the lieutenant's eagerness to see
! a battle led him to become an involuntary
! participant. The characteristics of the ma
| tives, their customs and manners and the
nature Of the country in which they reside
| are described in detail and form of the
| features Of the book. The lieutenant also
has something to say about the insects and
reptiles of the land and he presents the re-
| ports Of the Canal Commission and other
facts that will interest persons who want
! information on the subject. Maps and IL
/ Illustrations add 10 the value of the book.
| A c. McClurg & Co. Chicago.