218 Dr Charles Daubeny on the 



utterly demolished, the inhabitants being compelled to seek 

 refuge in the town of Suessa, the modern Sessa, in the plain 

 below. 



After this event, all we read of the Aurunci is, that they 

 took part with the Samnites in theiiv^econd war against the 

 Romans, and, in consequence of their defeat, were obliged to 

 submit to receive a Roman colony, so that their existence as 

 a separate state was from this period destroyed. 



That they should so long have resisted the Roman power, 

 and not been finally subdued, until deprived of their original 

 fortress on the top of Rocca Monfina, will be less a matter 

 of surprise, when I have described the structure of this re- 

 markable mountain. 



After a rather steep ascent of about 2000 feet, we find 

 ourselves all at once within a very regular crater, the brim 

 of which is perfect on the west, where it forms the lofty and 

 precipitous Monte Cortinella, and may be traced in other 

 parts throughout its entire circumference, except on the side 

 which we enter on coming from Sessa, where it is so far 

 broken away, that there is scarcely any sensible descent be- 

 fore arriving within its precincts. The circular form and ex- 

 tent of the crater is however better observed from some point 

 near to its centre, than from its margin, and a remarka*ble 

 conical protuberance which rises up from the midst of the 

 crater, and reaches an elevation of 3200 feet,* considerably 

 exceeding the highest point which the margin of the latter 

 attains, gives us an opportunity of surveying its internal di- 

 mensions. 



Its diameter is estimated at two and a half Italian miles, 

 and its circumference at seven and a half ; but a large portion 

 of its interior is occupied by the conical hill above noticed, the 

 structure of which I shall describe immediately. 



It is no novelty to the traveller in Italy, to observe the 

 country increasing in verdure and fertility, in proportion as 

 he ascends to a higher elevation ; so that, after toiling up a 

 laborious ascent, unapproachable perhaps, except on foot, or 



* Abich, uber die Natur, &c., der vulkanischen Bildungen. Braunschweig, 

 1841. 



