ALONG THE PENINSULA OF KERTSH, &c.

323

rapidly, then gradually flower, on all fides of the hill; and,according to the Information of credible witnefles, who, a fewhours after the eruption, rode thither from the farm, it wasnot perceptibly warm, though a thick vapour arofe from it,owing to the cold ftate of the atmofphere. Some Kozaks,difpatched to the place, 011 the contrary, affert that the mud,when firft difgorged, was hot. The confufed whiftling, andbubbling noife were heard tili a late hour of the night; and themud was forced out fometimes to the height of twelve feet, evenon the third day. Since that period, the mountain once morecommenced to difcharge and throw up mud above its fummit;but no fire was vifible, either during the day or at night. InMarch, a land-furveyor was fent from Taman, in order totake a plan of the Kuku-obo, which is communicated in thetwelfth vignette. He afcertained the firft opening A., on thetop of the hill, to be from ten to twelve fathoms wide, andthe true gulf, or crater, B. within it, to be about three feet fixinches in diameter. He alfo obferved a vapour occafionallyafcending, and mud, mingled with rock-oil, flowing out; ofwhich he brought. fome fpecimens of a ftrongly bituminousnature. The currents of mud C.C.C. were nearly of the fameextent as I found them in the enfuing fummer.

The fummit of the mountain was for fome time inaccef-fible, on account of the deep, foft, vifcous mud, with whichit was furrounded. But, after being hardened by the continueddrought, the whole mafs could be pafTed over, and examined.When I vifited this hill, the ftate of the mud, and of the open-ing, was as follows: On its furface appeared a difgorged mafsof mire, which may be eftimated at one hundred thoufand

T T 2 cubic

\