inlo the Crater of Mount Vtfuv'tus. 139 



often in a (late of oxygenation. It is fometinies white, and 

 fometinies of a vellowifti colour, and the fliarp and pungent 

 inipreffion it leaves on the 'onguc fufficiently indicates the 

 Itute in which it is. The burning focus, of which we have 

 fpoken, produces the fame refults. Some baialtic lava is 

 alfo found, but in fmall quantity ; one fpecimen only, of a 

 confiderable weight and beautiful polilh, attra^^ed our atten- 

 tion. 



On the north fide of the crater there are two large fifllires, 

 one of which is 20 feet in depth, and liie other about 75. 

 They are fhaped like an inverted cone. The matter with 

 ^vhich they are covered is entirely fimilar to that on the reft 

 of the furface. They emit neither Irnoke nor heat; yet fome 

 fulphurous produftions plainly fliow that the fire in thefe 

 places has not long been extindl. 



When we had fTniflied thefe few ohfervations, it was ne- 

 cefl'ary that we (hould think of returning. The dcfcent is 

 far lei's laborious than the afcent ; for it is difficult to climb 

 eminences where the points of fupport are fo moveable. Be-r 

 (ides, people cannot afcend but one at a time in fucceflion, 

 after long intervals, for fear of burying under a torrent of 

 volcanic matters thofe who follow, as the foot, when moved, 

 difplaces the allies, &c. to the diftanfe of thirty feet round. 



When we arrived at the two precipices, we were obliged 

 to afcend by mounting on the fliouldcrs of a man placed at 

 the bottom, and laving hold of a (lick held by another at the 

 top, and to reft our feet no where but in a very gentle man- 

 ner. At length, by pmdcnce and caution, we reached the 

 fummit of V'efuvius without any accident, but Cxhaufted 

 with fatigue, and fo covered with aflies and fmoke, as to be 

 fcarcclv diftineuifliable. Our fix companions, w-ho had not 

 defcended into the crater, were overjoyed when they faw u5 

 again, and fupplicd us with fome refreflnnents, of which \vc 

 had great need. 



When one grand difficultv is furmonnted, inferior ones 

 are overlooked, as of little importance. In lefs than twenty- 

 five minutes we again defcended, having confirmed, after 

 examining various Uoncs, this obftrvation, that Vefuvius is 

 the only known volcano which throws up from its bowels 

 primordial fubllanccs, without being altered by the fire, and 

 luch as are found at prcfent in banks and veins. 



At half after eight in the morning we arrived at Portici, the 

 inhabitants of whicii were much furprifcd to fee us return all 

 fdfe. Their delicious fruits, and their excellent wine called 

 lacryma CL-r'tfii, foon made us forget our fatigue, and we 

 then proceeded to Naples, which we reached in fafciy. 



The 



