first, from which lava was
emitted, together with sand and scoriae, which caused cones to arise
around the craters. The lava moved but slowly, and towards the end of
August it came to a stand, only a quarter of a mile from Zaffarana.

On the second of September, Gemellaro ascended Monte Finocchio in the
Val del Bove in order to witness the outburst. He states that the hill
was violently agitated, like a ship at sea. The surface of the Val
del Bove appeared like a molten lake; scoriae were thrown up from the
craters to a great height, and loud explosions were heard at frequent
intervals. The eruption continued to increase in violence. On October
6 two new mouths opened in the Val del Bove, emitting lava which flowed
towards the valley of Calanna, and fell over the Salto della Giumenta,
a precipice nearly 200 feet deep. The noise which it produced was like
that of a clash of metallic masses. The eruption continued with abated
violence during the early months of 1853, and it did not finally cease
till May 27. The entire mass of lava ejected is estimated to have been
equal to an area six miles long by two miles broad, with an average
depth of about twelve feet.

This eruption was one of the grandest of all the known eruptions of
Etna. During its outflow more than 2,000,000,000 cubic feet of molten
lava was spread out over a space of three square miles. There have been
several eruptions since its date, but none of marked prominence, though
the mountain is rarely quiescent for any lengthened period.

THE LIPARI VOLCANOES

South-eastward of Ischia, between Calabria and Sicily, the Lipari
Islands arrest attention for the volcanic phenomena they present. On
one of these is Mount Vulcano, or Volcano, from which all this class of
mountains is named. At present the best known of the Lipari volcanoes
is Stromboli, which consists of a single mountain, having a very obtuse
conical form. It has on one side of it several small craters, of which
only one is at present in a state of activity.

The total height of the mountain is about 2000 feet, and the principal
crater is situated at about two-thirds of the height. Stromboli is one
of the most active volcanoes in the world. It is mentioned as being in
a state of activity by several writers before the Christian era, and the
commencement of its operations extends into the past beyond the limits
of tradition. Since history began its action has never wholly ceased,
although it may h