Prof. Ferrara on the Earthquakes in Sicily in 1 823. 369 



I will mention, therefore, in this place, many facts, about which there can 

 be no uncertainty, and which will be of the greatest importance, should 

 any one wish to push the conjecture which I have announced in this me- 

 moir, to certain evidence. 



Since September of last year, the daily quantity of smoke from Vulca- 

 no, has been much greater than usual ; and flame has often been visible 

 in the evening. Explosions have been frequently heard on the neighbour- 

 ing coasts of Sicily. But Stromboli has exhibited the greatest activity for 

 almost fourteen months without intermission. Shocks have been very 

 frequent, and so strong as to fill the islanders, although accustomed to 

 them, with great apprehensions. 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 di- 

 rection was not towards any of the little habitations, or cultivated fields 

 of the island. One forest only on the side of the mountain suffered 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 damage 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 fol- 

 lowed by a thick dry cloud, which filled the air of the whole island. 



The shock of the 5th of -March was very strong at Stromboli, at Saline, 

 formerly Didime, and at Lipari. The inhabitants of Lipari did not 

 doubt that their houses would thif time be reduced to ruins; and 

 they have not yet ceased giving thanks to Heaven, for defending them 

 from utter destruction. They affirm that a moment after the shock, 

 all their thoughts were turned upon the disasters which might hap- 

 pen to places on the neighbouring coast of Sicily, and at Palermo; 

 towards which the direction of the motion seemed to be. Lipari lies 

 between us and Stromboli. Since April the parts of our island which 

 were before agitated, have been left in repose ; but shocks are still frequent 

 at Stromboli, and keep the poor inhabitants there in continued fear. The 

 subterranean furnace seems to have lost much of its power, as the elastic 

 vapours generated there shake but a very limited space, and the new aper- 

 tures of the mountains emit now and then but a very small quantity of 

 fine sand, which is always the last product of an expiring conflagra- 

 tion. 



From what I have laid down, it is just to conclude, that the fires of 

 Eolia are those which have, for a long time, been preparing the event of 

 last March; that it was produced by motions generated in those mighty 

 furnaces, and that those motions were propagated to great distances. If 

 Sicily, then, is so often shocked, the powers which agitate it must exist 

 in volcanoes that burn within its own bosom, and in the surrounding sea. 

 VOL. IV. NO. II. Al'KIL 1826. a a 



