I907.] AND CONTRACTION OF THE EARTH. 257 



must necessarily undergo a corresponding change, and at times the orifices 

 on the surface around be considerably increased. Some who have very 

 recently ascended the mountain, reported to us, that they found at the top 

 an even plain of about 20 stadia in circumference, enclosed by an overhang- 

 ing ridge of ashes about the height of a wall, so that those who are desirous 

 of proceeding further are obliged to leap down into the plain. They noticed 

 in the midst of it a mound; it was ash-coloured, as was likewise the plain 

 in appearance. Above the mound a column of cloud reared itself in a per- 

 pendicular line to the height of 200 stadia, and remained motionless (there 

 being no air stirring at the time) ; it resembled smoke. Two of the party 

 resolutely attempted to proceed further across this plain, but, finding the 

 sand very hot and sinking very deep in it, they turned back, without however 

 being able to make any more particular observations, as to what we have 

 described, than those who beheld from a greater distrnce. They were, how- 

 ever, of opinion, from the observations they were able to make, that much 

 exaggeration pervades the accounts we have of the volcano, and especially 

 the tale about Empedocles, that he leaped into the crater, and left as a 

 vestige of his folly one of the brazen sandals which he wore, it being found 

 outside at a short distance from the lip of the crater, with the appearance 

 of having been cast up by the violence of the flame; for neither is the place 

 approachable nor even visible, nor yet was it likely that anything could be 

 cast in thither, on account of the contrary currents of vapours and other 

 matters cast up from the lower parts of the mountain, and also on account 

 of the overpowering excess of heat, which would most likely meet any one 

 before approaching the mouth of the crater; and if eventually any thing 

 should be cast down, it would be totally decomposed before it were cast up 

 again, what manner of form soever it might have had at first. And again, 

 although it is not unreasonable to suppose that the force of the vapour and 

 fire is occasionally slackened for want of a continual supply of fuel, still we 

 are not to conclude that it is ever possible for a man to approach it in the 

 presence of so great an opposing power, ^tna more especially commands 

 the shore along the Strait and Catana, but it also overlooks the sea that 

 washes Tyrrhenia and the Lipari Islands. By night a glowing light appears 

 on its summit, but in the day-time it is enveloped with smoke and thick 

 darkness. 



" The Nebrodes mountains take their rise opposite to ^tna ; they are 

 not so lofty as ^tna, but extend over a much greater surface. The whole 

 island is hollow under ground, and full of rivers and fire like the bed of 

 the Tyrrhenian Sea, as far as Cumsea, as we before described. For there 

 are hot springs in many places in the island, some of which are saline, as 

 those named Selinuntia and the springs at Himera, while those at ^gesta 

 are fresh." 



Again (Lib. VI., cap. 2, § 10; pp. 417-418) Strabo says : 



" Phaenomena, similar to these, and such as take place throughout Sicily, 

 are witnessed in the Lipari Islands, and especially in Lipari itself. These 

 islands are seven in number, the chief of which is Lipari, a colony of the 

 Cnidians. It was nearest to Sicily after Thermessa. It was originally named 



