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opportunity of witnessing the miraculous absti-nence of this sort of fish.

On the island of Tofooa there is a small vol-cano, situated near the northern extremity,from which smoke almost constantly issues, andpumice-stones are very frequently thrown out.An eruption of flame takes place, sometimestwice or thrice a week, and at other timesscarcely once in two months, and generallylasts from one to two or three days. The wayto the top is extremely difficult; but Mr. Ma-riner, taking one of the natives of the islandfor a guide, resolved to ascend it. They beganthe ascent early in the morning, and, althoughtheir progress was much impeded by the quan-tity of loose pumice-stone, and often renderedyery dangerous, they reached the top in aboutfour hours. There was at this time no erup-tion of flame, which had ceased a few hoursbefore, after having lasted three days j smokethere was, however, in abundance, but whichdid not much annoy them, as they were on thewindward side: sundry explosions were alsoheard from within, like the noise of waterbeing thrown upon burning pitch. The craterwas about thirty feet diameter. Whilst theywere here, Mr. Mariner took care not to lethis companion approach too near, lest he might