rcely luminous, now of a dull and dying red that again
blazed terrifically forth with intolerable glare!... Then there arose on
high the shrieks of women; the men stared at each other, but were
speechless. At that moment they felt the earth shake beneath their feet;
the walls of the theatre trembled; and beyond, in the distance, they
heard the crash of falling roofs; an instant more and the mountain-cloud
seemed to roll towards them, dark and rapid; at the same time it cast
forth from its bosom a shower of ashes mixed with vast fragments of
burning stone. Over the crushing vines--over the desolate streets--over
the amphitheatre itself--far and wide, with many a mighty splash in the
agitated sea, fell that awful shower." A visit to the disinterred city
will probably produce on the mind a still more lasting and vivid
impression of the swift destruction which overtook this city.

[7] Quoted by Phillips, _loc. cit._, p. 45.

[8] _Vesuvius_, p. 72 _et seq._

[9] Johnston-Lavis, "On the Geology of Monti Somma and Vesuvius,"
_Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc._, vol. 40 (1884).

[10] Palmieri, _Eruption of Vesuvius in 1872_, with notes, etc., by
Robert Mallet, F.R.S. London, 1873.

[11] Those who lost their lives were medical students, and an Assistant
Professor in the University, Antonio Giannone by name.

[12] Involving, as Mr. Mallet calculates, an initial velocity of
projection of above 600 feet per second.

[13] Such as that given by Professor Phillips in his _Vesuvius_.

CHAPTER II.

ETNA.

(_a._) _Structure of the Mountain._--Etna, unlike Vesuvius, has ever
been a burning mountain; hence it was well known as such to classic
writers before the Christian era. The structure and features of this
magnificent mountain have been abundantly illustrated by Elie de
Beaumont,[1] Daubeny,[2] Baron von Waltershausen,[3] and Lyell,[4] of
whose writings I shall freely avail myself in the following account, not
having had the advantage of a personal examination of this region.

_Structure of Etna._--So large is Etna that it would enclose within its
ample skirts several cones of the size of Vesuvius. It rises to a height
of nearly 11,000 feet above the waters of the Mediterranean,[5] and is
planted on a floor consisting of stratified marine volcanic matter, with
clays, sands, and limestones of newer Pliocene age. Its base is nearly
circular, and has a circumference of 87 English miles. In ascending its
flanks we pass successiv