Wonderful and awful as were these phenomena, they were surpassed
by the sudden opening of a chasm which vomited forth fire, and red-hot
stones and ashes, until they accumulated in a range of six large
mountain masses,--one of which, now known as the volcano of Jorullo,
attains an altitude of 1690 feet above the ancient level.
In like manner Sir John proceeds to describe an eruption of Mount
Tomboro, in the island of Sumbawa, the influence of which was felt to a
distance of 1000 miles from its centre, in strange tremulous motions of
the earth, and in the clash and clang of loud explosions. He says that
he had seen it computed that the quantity of ashes and lava ejected in
the course of this tremendous eruption would have formed three mountains
of the size of Mont Blanc.
As to the nature of the forces which operate to produce this astounding
result, Herschel puts forward a theory of singular simplicity and
directness.
"The origin," he says, "of such an enormous power thus occasionally
exerting itself, will no doubt seem very marvellous--little short,
indeed, of miraculous intervention; but the mystery, after all, is not
quite so great as at first it seems.
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