muriatic Acid--Proof that they are the Effect of fulphureous acid Vapours. Chap. XIV. Vulcano continued. Eruption in 1786-No Iffuing of Lava from the Crater within the Memory of the Natives of Lipari now living-Sterility of this Ifland next Lipari--Porphyritic Lavas in this Part of the Ifland, but greatly decompofed-The Fumes of Vulcano obferved by the Liparefe as Signs of good or bad Weather-Thefe Prognoftics very ancient. Chap. XV. Lipari, Part Firft.-Immenfe Rocks of Lava and Glafs, on which the Castle of Lipari is founded -Common Fire acts on volcanic Glaffes differently from the fubterranean Fires-Porphyritic Lava of a beautiful red found in its Vicinity-The enormous Breaches made by the Sea favourable to the Discovery of volcanic Products--The Campo Bianco, fo called from the white Punices of which it is an entire Mountain-The Monte della Caftagna compofed of Vitrifications and Enameis-This Mountain and the Campo Bianco, with their Environs, form a vitrified Mafs eight Miles in Circuit -Feltfpars and Petrofilex commonly the Base of these Vitrifications Uncertainty of the Rule which eftimates the Dates of Lavas from their being more or lefs converted into vegetable Earth-Two large Rocks in the narrow Channel which divides Lipari from Vulcano-This Channel muft have been narrower than at prefent--Conjecture that in ancient Times they formed but one Ifland. voi. III. Chap. XVI. Lipari, Part Second. -Extremely irregular Appearance of this Ifland-No characterized Crater discoverable in it-Enamel of the Liparefe Garnets, which has for its Bafe the Horn-ftone-Large Pieces of red Porphyry, which do not feem to have fuffered Fufion-Sulphates of Lime, varioufly coloured, adhering to the decompofed Lavas Springs of hot Water which fupply the Baths of Lipari-Proofs that almoft two thirds of Lipari are compofed of Vitrifications-Few Notices by ancient Authors relative to the Fires of Lipari-The City known to exift before the Trojan War. Chap. XVII. Felicuda.-Qualities of the Lavas forming its interior Part -Glaffes, Pumices, Tufas, and Puzzolanas fcattered over the IflandPuzzolanas and Pumices employed in building. Chap. XVIII. Alicuda.-Several Rocks formed of detached Globes of Lava-Shoerls in all these Lavas— Felicuda and Alicuda no longer manifeft any Signs of actual Fire-The Silence of the Ancients relative to their fiery Eruptions. Chap. XIX. Gravel and volcanic Sand in the Channel between Panaria and Lipari-Volcanic Glafs found in Iceland-Scarcely any in Germany or Hungary-Inquiries relative to the Origin of Bafaltes. Chap. XX. Excurfion to the Euganean Mountains--Volcanic Productions of thefe Mountains compared with thofe of Padua, &c.The Euganean Mountains once were Iflands. Chap. XXI. Experimental Inquiries relative to the Nature of the Gafes of Volcanos, and the Caufes of their Eruptions. Chap. XXII. Difcovery that various volcanic Products contain muriatic Acid-Inquiry how this Acid has been produced, and mixed with them. VOL. IV. Chap. XXIII. Confiderations relative to the Activity of volcanic Fires. Chap. XXIV. Lipari, its Population, Wines, Fruits--Scarcity of Corn and Cattle-Rabbits the only wild Quadruped in the Ifland-Phyfical and moral Character of the Liparefe--Stromboli-Frequency of Tempefts in that Iland-VulcanoGreat Quantities of the Sulphate of Alum-Difficulty of extracting itSaline-Abundance of Grapes in this Ifland-Felicuda and Alicuda-The Corn excellent-Industry of the Inhabitants habitants--Ridiculous Superftitions "These travels which I now present -Extreme Scarcity of Infects-Salubrity of the Air. Chap. XXV. State in which the Author found Meffina after the Earthquake in 1783-Account of the calamitous Accidents which befell that City. Chap. XXVI. Scylla and Charybdis-A Noife like the barking of Dogs on approaching the Rock of Scylla, produced by the Dathing of the Waves of the Sea-Charybdis not properly a Whirlpool, but an inceffant Motion of agitated Waters, which afcend, defcend, dash, and rebound. Chap. XXVII. Natural History of phofphorefcent Medufæ, observed in the Strait of Meffina. Chap. XXVIII. Account of other Mollufca difcovered in the fame Strait. Chap. XXIX. Of the Coral Fishery in do. Chap. XXX. Of the Fishery of the Sword Fith in do. Chap. XXXI, Fishery of the Sea Dog (a Species of Shark) in do. Index of principal Matters. EXTRACT FROM THE INTRODUCTION. "IN the volcanized countries in which I travelled, there are four craters ftill burning; Vefuvius, Etna, Stromboli, and Vulcano. To all these four, from an ardent defire of obtaining knowledge, I wished to make a near approach. By Veluvius this with was not gratified; but Etna was more condefcending, though incomparably more formidable; and a fimilar good fortune attended me at Stromboli and Vulcano. The clear and diftinct view I had of these three craters was equally pleating and inftructive. The crater of Etna I delineated myself; the views of Vulcano and Stromboli are the work of a draughtfman I took with me for that purpose, and who likewise furnished me with drawings of fome other volcanic mountains described in this work. I fhall only add, that all thefe designs have been retouched and greatly improved by Sig. Fran. Lanfranchi, an eminent painter in the university of Pavia, to the public will be speedily followed JOURNEY TO THE SUMMIT OF "THREE hours before day, I, with Faint Over thefe fcoriæ I was obliged to proceed, not without confiderable difficulty and fatigue, as my leg at every ftep funk deep into it. Only two miles and a half remained of our journey, when the great laboratory of nature, enclofed within the abyffes of Etna, began its operations. Two white columns of fmoke arofe from its fummit; one, which was the fmalleft, towards the northeaft fide of the mountain; and the other, towards the north-weit. A light wind blowing from the caft, they both made a curve towards the weft, gradually dilating, until they difappeared in the wide expanfe of air. Several ftreams of smoke, which arofe lower down, towards the weft, followed the zwo columns. Thefe appearances could not but tend to infpire me with new ardour to profecute my journey, that I might difcover and admire the fecrets of this ftupendous volcano. The fun, likewife, thining in all his fplendour, feemed to promife that this day fhould crown my wifhes. But experience taught me that the two miles and a half had yet to go prefented many more obftacles than I could have imagined, and that nothing but the refoJution I had formed to complete my defign at every hazard could have en abled me to furmount them. "In fome places the fcoriæ project. ed in prominent angles and points, and in others funk in hollows, or fteep declivities; in fome, from their fra gility and imoothnefs, they refembled thin plates of ice, and in others they prefented vertical and fharp projections. In addition to thefe difficulties, my guide informed me I fhould have to pafs three places where the lava was ftill red-hot, though it was now eleven months fince it had ceafed to Bow. Thefe obftacles, however, could not overcome my refolution to furmount them; and I then experienced, as I have frequently done at other tines, how much may be effected, in difficulties and dangers like thefe, by mere phyfical courage, by the afliftance of which we may proceed along the edge of a precipice in fafety; while the adventurer who fuffers himfelf to be furprised by a panic fear will be induced cowardly to defift from the enterprife he might have completed. "In feveral places, it is true, the fcoriæ broke under my feet; and in others I flipped, and had nearly fallen into cavities, from which I fhould have been with difficulty extricated. One of the three places pointed out by the guides had, likewife, from its extreme heat, proved highly difagreeable; yet, at length, I furmounted all thefe obftacles, and reached the oppofite fide, not without making feveral curfory obfervations on the places whence thofe heats originated. Two large clefts, or apertures, in different places appeared in the lava, which there, notwithflanding the clearnels of the day, had an obfcure redness: and on applying the end of the staff, which I used as a fupport in this difficult journey, to one of thefe, it prefently fmoked, and immediately after took fire. It was, therefore, indubitable that this heap of ejected lava ftill contained within it the active remains of fire, which were more manifeft there, than in other places, becaufe thofe matters were there collected in greater quantities. I had yet to encounter other obftacles. I had to pafs that tract which may properly be called the cone of Etna, and which, in a right line, is about a mile or fomewhat more in length. This was extremely fteep, and not lefs rugged, from the accumulated fcoria which had been heaped upon it in the last eruption, the pieces of which were neither connected together, nor attached to the ground; fo that, frequently, when I stepped upon one of them, before I could advance my other foot, it gave way, and, forcing other pieces before it down the fleep declivity, carried me with it, compelling me to make many steps backwards inftead of one forwards. To add to this inconvenience, the larger pieces of fcoriæ above that on which I had ftepped, being deprived of the fupport of thofe contiguous to them, came rolling down upon me, not with out danger of violently bruising my feet, or breaking my legs. After feveral ineffectual attempts to proceed, I found the only method to avoid this inconvenience, and continue my journey, was to ftep only on those larger pieces of fcoriæ which, on account of their weight, remained firm; but the length of the way was thus more than doubled, by the circuitous windings it was neceffary to make to find such pieces of fcoriæ, as from their large fize were capable of affording a ftable fupport. I employed three hours in paffing, paffing, or rather dragging myfelf, to the top of the mountain, partly from being unable to proceed in a right line, and partly from the steepnefs of the declivity, which obliged me to climb with my hands and feet, fweating and breathlefs, and under the necelility of ftopping at intervals to reft, and recover my strength. How much did I then envy the good fortune of thofe who had visited Etna before the eruption of 1787, when, as my guides affured me, the journey was far lefs difficult and laborious! I was not more than a hundred and fifty paces from the vertex of the cone, and already beheld close to me, in all their majefty, the two columns of fmoke. Anxious to reach the borders of the ftupendous gulf, I fummoned the little Strength I had remaining, to make a laft effort, when an unforeseen obftacle, for a moment, cruelly retarded the completion of my ardent withes. The volcanic craters, which are ftill burning more or lefs, are ufually furrounded with hot fulphureous acid ftreams, which iffue from their fides, and rife in the air. From these the fummit of Etna is not exempt; but the largest of them rofe to the weft, and I was on the fouth-eaft fide. Here, likewife, four or five streams of smoke arofe, from a part fomewhat lower; and through these it was neceffary to país; fince on one fide was a dreadful precipice, and on the other fo íteep a declivity, that I and my companion, from weakness and fatigue, were unable to afcend it; and it was with the utmoft difficulty that our two guides made their way up to it, notwithstand. ing they were fo much accustomed to fuch laborious expeditions. We continued our journey, therefore, through the midft of the vapours; but though we ran as fast as the ground and our ftrength would permit, and the fulphureous fteams, with which they were loaded, were extremely offenfive, and prejudicial to refpiration; and affected me, in particular, fo much, that for fome moments I was deprived of fenfe; and found, by experience, how dangerous an undertaking it is to vifit volcanic regions infested by fuch vapours. "Having paffed this place, and recovered by degrees my former prefence of mind, in lefs than an hour I arrived at the utmost summit of Etna, and began to discover the edges of the VOL. II.-No. II. crater; when our guides, who had preceded me at fome diftance, turned back, and haftening towards me, exclaimed in a kind of transport, that I never could have arrived at a more proper time to difcover and obferve the internal part of this ftupendous volcano. The reader will eafily conceive, without my attempting to defcribe it, how great a pleasure I felt at finding my labours and fatigue at length crowned with fuch complete fuccefs. This pleasure was exalted to a kind of rapture, when I had completely reached the fpot, and perceived that I might, without danger, contemplate the amazing fpectacle. I fat down near the edge of the crater, and remained there two hours, to recover my ftrength after the fatigues I had undergone in my journey. I viewed with aftonifhment the configuration of the borders, the internal fides, the form of the immenfe cavern, its bottom, an aperture which appeared in it, the melted matter which boiled within, and the fmoke which afcended from it. The whole of this ftupendous fcene was diftinctly difplayed before me; and I fhall now proceed to give fome defcription of it, though it will only be poffible to prefent the reader with a very feeble image, as the fight alone can enable him to form ideas at all adequate to objects fo grand and aftonifhing. "The upper edges of the crater, to judge by the eye, are about a mile and a half in circuit, and form an oval, the longest diameter of which extends from eaft to weft. As they are in feveral places broken, and crumbled away in large fraginents, they appear as it were indented, and thefe indentations are a kind of enormous fteps, formed of projecting lavas and fcoriæ. The internal fides of the cavern, or crater, are inclined in different angles in different places. To the weft their declivity is flight; they are more steep to the north; ftill more fo to the east; and to the fouth-eaft, on which fide ĺ was, they are almoft perpendicular. Notwithftanding this irregularity, however, they form a kind of funnel; large at the top, and narrow at the bottom; as we ufually obferve in other craters. The fides appear irregularly rugged, and abound with concretions, of an orange colour, which, at first, Í took for fulphur; but afterwards found to be the muriate of ammoniac; H having having been able to gather fome pieces thick and folid, it must have been broken by ftones fo heavy falling from fo great a height. Etna rifes to a prodigious height above the level of the fea, and its fummit is ufually covered with fnows and ice, and obfcured with clouds, except when the latter are low, and range along the fides. The winds, likewife, frequently blow with fuch violence that perfons can scarcely keep their feet, not to mention the acute cold which benumbs the limbs. But the most formidable impediments to the progrefs of the adventurers who attempt this perilous journey, are the ftreams of fulphureous vapour which rife on the fides, and the thick clouds of fulphureous fmoke which burst forth from the mouth of the volcano, even when not in a state of agitation. It feems as if Nature had placed these noxions fumes as a guard to Etna, and other fiery mountains, to prevent the approach of curiofity, and fecure her · myfterious and wondrous labours from difcovery. I fhould, however, juftly incur the reproach of being ungrateful, were I not to acknowledge the generous partiality the appeared to manifeft towards me. At the time I made my vifit the fky was clear, the mountain free from fnows, the temperature of the atmosphere not incommodious, the thermometer standing at feven degrees above the freezing point (48° of Fahrenheit), and the wind favouring my defign, by driving the fmoke of the crater from me, which otherwife. would alone have been fufficient to have fruftrated all my attempts. The ftreams of fmoke I met with in my way were indeed fomewhat troublefome, but they might have been much more fo; though, had our guides conducted us by another road, as on my return to Catania I found they might have done, we should have escaped this inconvenience. After having for two hours indulged my eyes with a view of the interior of the crater, that is, in the contemplation of a spectacle, which, in its kind, and in the prefent age, is without a parallel in the world; I turned them to another fcene, which is likewife unequalled, for the multiplicity, the beauty, and the variety of the objects it prefents. In fact, there is, perhaps, no elevated region on the whole globe which offers, at one view, fo ample an extent of fea and land as the fammit of Etna. The first of the fublics |