EFFECTS OF DECOMPOSITION. 



and houses, cover the spot where this unfortunate 

 town was once situated." 



In 1714, a great part of the mountain Dia- Diabieret, 

 bleret fell. It was on the 23d of September, 

 between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, 

 and during the calmest weather, that the sum- 

 mit of this mountain fell in an instant, and 

 covered more than a league of fertile land. Of 

 140 huts there only remained 40; and where 

 the others stood, there is at present a bed of 

 stones, about 30 yards in thickness. Four tor- 

 rents were stopped, or changed their courses, 

 and now terminate in lakes. There perished 

 under the ruins of this mountain, eighteen per- 

 sons, near one hundred cattle, with a great 

 number of sheep, goats, and swine. Those who 

 saw this disaster, say that it happened in a mo- 

 ment; and at the same time there rose whirling 

 clouds of dust, which darkened the air like a 

 sudden fall of night, and so much covered the 

 neighbouring pasturages that they were obliged to 

 withdraw the cattle. Even the adjacent mow*- 

 tains were wounded by the fall, which !a: > d 

 for twenty-four hours. Some pretended that fire 

 and smoke were seen ; but the former arose from 

 the collision of the siliceous fragments, and the 

 pretended smoke was only dust ; while the smell 

 of sulphur arose from the pyrites. 



