NOME II. VESICULAR LATA. 



I had detached from the edges of the crater, 

 bounding down the side, in a few moments fell 

 on the bottom, and those which entered into the 

 aperture, and struck the liquid lava, produced a 

 sound similar to that they would have occasion- 

 ed had they fallen into a thick tenacious paste. 

 Every stone I thus threw, struck against and 

 loosened others in its passage, which fell with it, 

 and in like manner struck and detached others 

 in their way, whence the sounds produced were 

 considerably multiplied. The stones which fell 

 on the bottom rebounded, even when they were 

 very large, and returned a sound different from 

 that I have before described. The bottom can- 

 not therefore be considered only a thin crust; 

 since, were it not thick and solid, it must have 

 been broken by stones so heavy falling from so 

 great a height. 



" To satisfy one emotion of curiosity, is fre- 

 quently to excite another. I had at first ap- 

 proached this volcano with akind of superstitious 

 awe. The histories of every age, the relations 

 of travellers, the universal voice of Europe, had 

 all contributed to inspire those who should ad- 

 venture to visit it with dread : but as at this 

 time it seemed to have laid aside its terrors, and 

 was in a state of perfect calmness and tranquil- 

 lity, I was encouraged to become more familiar, 



