«ind the Places where fotaid. 425 



fmall towTi of the fame name. According to Dolomieu, it 

 is the inexhauftibie mairazhie from which all Europe ob- 

 tflins pumice fione; and it has whole mountains of that 

 fubltance, in which large holes have been cut without any 

 perceptible decreafe being obferved. Next to Li pari, and 

 neareft to Cape Melazzo in Sicily, lies Vulcano, nearly 

 twelve Italian miles in circumference, and fcparated from 

 the former by a channel only one Italian mile in breadth, 

 Jts fire is never excinguifhed ; and it contains an inexhauft- 

 ibie ftore of pumice done, which has a perfeft refemblance 

 •to that of Lipari. Some of it is colletiled for foreign trade; 

 Jaut this uninhabited ifland is vifited, at prefent, merely on 

 account of its wood, which grows on the foutli fide of an 

 ^ancient crater. 



The pumice fl;one, however, of thefe iflands, is very dif- 

 ferent in regard to folidity, hardnefs, and weight ; and it 

 may be diftjnguifhed into four kinds, one of which only is 

 employed in foreign commerce. The firft is grey ; has a 

 clofe grain, imperceptible interftices and fibres ; a confi- 

 dcrable weight ; great compaftnefs ; and fomewhat of a 

 .vitreous frafture. This ftone, which can be eafily cut, is 

 employed as corner-ftones for buildings, and for all kinds of 

 walls in general. The town of Lipari is almoft entirely 

 built of it.— T-The fecond kind is alfo grey; but lighter, more 

 porous, and ha? more perceptible fibres than the former, 

 ^nd does not float in water. It is ufed for arches; and 00 

 that account great quantities of it are carried to Sicily and 

 Naples. — The third is light, porous, and full of fibres ; it 

 floats in water ; has a filky appearance on the fra6lure ; and 

 is compact and of a hard grain, which renders it exceed- 

 ingly proper for polifliipg mafble and metals. This is the 

 only kind employed in foreign trade. — ^The fourth kind i« 

 exceedingly white ; of a very tender texture, and Icfs com- 

 paft than the others. It feems to have reached the utmoft 

 degree of extenficwi, to which any fubllancc can attain, for 

 \\.! part? to retain a connexion. This kind is fit for no pur- 



