178 On the Eai-thqiiakes in Sicily in March 1823. 



the physical events of the past March, it is necessary to in- 

 quire it' these islands exhibited at that time any phasnomena 

 which may corroborate our opinion. I will mention, therefore, 

 in this place many facts, about which there can be no uncer- 

 tainty, and which will be of the greatest importance should 

 any one wish to push the suspicion which I have announced 

 in this memoir to certain evidence*. 



Since September of last year the daily quantity of smoke 

 from Vulcano has been mucli greater than usual, and flame 

 has often been visible in the evening. Explosions have been 

 frequently heard on the neighbouring coasts of Sicily. But 

 Stromboli has exhibited the greatest activity for almost four- 

 teen months without intermission. Shocks have been very 

 frequent, and so strong as to fill the islanders, although ac- 

 customed to them, with great a)iprehensions. The island, with 

 the blazing mountain itself, seemed often on the point of being 

 torn up from its foundation. The volcano opened two new 

 mouths on the side which looks towards the sea, and belched 

 out from them fearful clouds of sand and burning rocks, which 

 after darkening the air fell to the earth. Fortunately their 

 direction was not towards any of the little habitations or cul- 

 tivated fields of the island. One forest only on the side of 

 the mountain suflered some injury. The inhabitants often 

 found themselves enveloped in thick clouds of black smoke 

 and ashes, which the wind drove among them. But only one 

 man was struck by the burning rocks hurled through the air 

 with immense violence. The scoria and ashes did much da- 

 mage to the cisterns of the island, and to the terraces which 

 serve as tiles over them. Torrents of black smoke, ashes and 

 sand were often ejected and thrown to various distances. The 

 greatest shocks were sometimes followed by a thick dry cloud 

 which filled the air of the whole island. 



The shock of the 5th of March was very strong at Strom- 

 boli, at Saline (formerly Didime), and at Lipari. The inhabi- 

 tants of Lipari did not doubt that their houses would this time 

 be reduced to ruins; and they have not yet ceased giving 

 thanks to Heaven and their protecting saints for defending 

 them from utter destruction. They affirm that a moment after 

 the shock all their thoughts were turned upon the disasters 

 which might happen to places on the neighbouring coast of 



* The external pliERnomena of a volcano show that the effects of the 

 fermentation have come to the surface ; but Nature operates often in the 

 dark recesses of tlie earth, without exhibiting any external visible effects of 

 her operations : elastic vapours may form there, shake the soil, and return 

 to their concrete state. When eruptions happen from the inflamed mouths, 

 it is because these subterranean forces have met with substances which may 

 be thrown out, thus giving certuin proof of tho existence of these forces. 



Sicily 



