But that which formed steps under our feet became stalactites overhead. The lava, which was porous in many places, had formed a surface covered with small rounded blisters; crystals of opaque quartz, set with limpid tears of glass, and hanging like clustered chandeliers from the vaulted roof, seemed as it were to kindle and form a sudden illumination as we passed on our way.
Maar wat ons tot treden diende, werd aan de andere wanden dropsteen; de op sommige plaatsen poreuse lava vertoonde kleine ronde belletjes; ondoorschijnende kwartskristallen, versierd met heldere waterdroppels en als lichtstroomen aan het gewelf hangende, schenen, toen wij er voorbijgingen, aangestoken te worden.