NOME II. VESICULAR LAVA. 369 



extensive of the three, adorned with elegant 

 villas and castles, verdant hills, and flowery 

 fields, and terminated by the extensive coast; 

 where, to the south, stands the beautiful city of 

 Catania, to which the waves of the neighbouring 

 sea serve as a mirror. 



" But not only do we discover, from this 

 astonishing elevation, the entire massy body of 

 Mount Etna; but the whole of the island of 

 Sicily, with all its noble cities, lofty hills, exten- 

 sive plains, and meandering rivers. In the in* 

 distinct distance we perceive Malta ; but have a 

 clear view of the environs of Messina, and the 

 greater part of Calabria; while Lipari, the 

 fuming Vulcano, the blazing Stromboli, and the 

 other Eolian isles, appear immediately under our 

 feet, and seem as if, on stooping down, we might 

 touch them with the finger. 



" Another object, no less superb and majestic, 



was the far- stretching surface of the subjacent 



sea which surrounded me, and led my eye to an 



i immense distance, till it seemed gradually to 



I mingle with the heavens. 



if " Seated in the midst of this theatre of the 

 wonders of nature, I felt an indescribable plea- 

 sure from the multiplicity and beauty of the ob- 

 ects I surveyed ; and a kind of internal satis- 

 faction and exultation of heart. The sun was 



VOL. II. 2 B 



