NOME II. VESICULAR LAVA. 337 



I had used as a support in this difficult journey 5 

 to one of these, it presently smoked, and imme- 

 diately after took fire. It was therefore indubi- 

 table that this heap of ejected lava still contained 

 within it the active remains of fire, which were 

 more manifest there than in other places, be- 

 cause those matters were there collected in 

 greater quantities. 



" I had yet to encounter other obstacles. I had Cone of Etna, 

 to pass that tract which may properly be called 

 the cone of Etna, and which, in a right line, is 

 about a mile or somewhat more in length. This 

 was extremely steep, and not less rugged, from 

 the accumulated scoriae which had been heaped 

 upon it in the last eruption, the pieces of which 

 were neither connected together, nor attached 

 to the ground ; so that frequently when I stepped 

 upon one of them, before I could advance my 

 other foot, it gave way, and forcing other pieces 

 before it down the steep declivity, carried me 

 with it, compelling me to take many steps back- 

 wards instead of one forwards. To add to this 

 inconvenience, the larger pieces of scoriae above 

 chat on which I had stepped, being deprived of 

 :he support of those contiguous to them, came 

 oiling down upon me, not without danger of 

 violently bruising my feet, or breaking my legs. 

 \fter several ineffectual attempts to proceed, I 



VOL. II. Z 



