Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/58

 40 WEST AFEICA. and vapour at a temperature of 194° F. still escapes from the crater, while round about the solfataras are deposited crystals of sulphur, whence this central part of the island takes the name of Furnas d'Enxofre, or " Sulphur Furnaces." Off the south coast of Terceira lie the Cabras rocks, representing an old sub- marine cone, now separated by the waves into two distinct islets. Attached to the same coast is the Morro do Brazil, another submarine volcano lying west of the port of Angra. A fort erected on its slope defends Angra, chief town of Terceira, formerly official capital of the Azores, and still residence of the military commander. Although smaller than Ponta-Delgada, the " City of Churches," as it is called from the number of its sacred edifices, it presents a more monumental appearance. In the local records it bears the pompous title of "Angra do Ileroismo," in memory of the successful resistance it opposed to the troops of Don Miguel in 1829. Graciom, the " Delightful," no longer deserves this name, since its former vesture of arborescent vegetation has been replaced by more economic growths. Besides agriculture, some industries are carried on in its two towns of S^mt/i- Cruz and Praia, both situated on the north coast. Since the arrival of the Portuguese there have been no eruptions, and seldom any severe earthquakes in this island. The only present indications of volcanic activity are a thermal and mineral spring flowing seawards, and some carbonic acid and other vapours emitted from a " cauldron " in the eastern district. San- Jorge, central point of the middle group and of the whole archipelago, .differs from the other islands in its long narrow form, disposed exactly in the direction of the general Azorian axis, and traversed for some 30 miles by a ridge destitute of deep "cauldrons," and even of craters, properly so called. Although quiescent in its eastern section, which was the first to be occupied by Jobst van Huerter's Flemish colonists, San-Jorge is still frequently disturbed at the other end. Here is Vellas, the capital, sheltered by a headland from the west winds. Submarine volcanoes are said to have made their appearance near the western extremity in 1691, 1720, and 1757 ; in the latter year as many as eighteen ephemeral islets, all soon swept away by the waves. Formerly San- Jorge produced the best wine in the archipelago, but is at present chiefly occupied with stock- breeding. South of San- Jorge the archipelago culminates in the lofty summit of Pico, or the " Peak," in a pre-eminent sense, which towers to a height of 7,800 feet, and which, although developing at its base a circuit of 70 miles, has never been known by any more definite name. On both sides of the island the slopes rise gradually towards the apex, but more rapidly on the west side, which, seen from below, present the appearance of almost vertical walls. During clear weather the summit is seen from a distance to terminate in a crater encircled by more recent cones, formed by successive eruptions. But this summit is even more rarely visible than that of Teneriffe, the mountain being wrapped in clouds and fogs for months together, while the snow, sheltered by the vapours from the solar rays, remains even during midsummer in the ui3per crevasses.