Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/80

74 74 DR. JOHN SCOXJLER. cliffs, attaining to the height of 80 or 100 feet; in other situations it assumes the form of a low sandy beach, form- ing the bar[r]ier between the sea & some salt water lake. The mountains are generally of a conical shape & of a very gradual ascent & moderate elevation. The country is generally covered by a rich vegetation, except where the lava has run down and there very few plants grow. While walking over these streams of volcanic matter, it gives a peculiar crackling sound, precisely similar to that caused by walking over the ashes of the smelting furnace. In some places there are large colum[n]s formed entirely by lava. Near the landing place I examined one of these columns. It was situated amidst a stream of lava, & had an exceed- ingly rough & uneven surface, & reached to the height of 60 or 70 feet. This wild inaccessable abode was occupied by the golden eagle of the Gallipagos. The lava was of the three following varieties : 1 Of a black colour, very vesicular & rather light. 2 Colour black or brown ; slaggy & very hard. 3 Of a red ochr[e]ous colour, very soft & subvesicular & heavy. During my excursion I had not the good fortune to de- tect a vestige of craters; but Mr. Douglass informed me he had seen one a little to the S. E. of where we landed. In all the pieces of lava I examined I did not find any vestiges of imbedded minerals. The Gallipagos as will be seen by this very incomplete notice of their productions are peculiarly rich in the objects of scientific research. While the perplexing varieties of natural objects Rio affords, & the romantic scenery & fertile vallies of Juan Fernandez are recollected, the Gallipagos will not lose by the contrast. The uncommon nature of its productions & the interest of its geological phenomena, easily recon- cile one to its arid soil and fatiguing journey under a vertical sun. When landing the first object that strikes