DOMAIN XII. VOLCANIC. 



heat which influences Sicily and the neighbour- 

 ing isles*. 



His account of the remarkable eruption of 

 this muddy volcano in 1777 is subjoined, as P re " 

 senting new and singular circumstances. 

 Eruption of " Sometimes this phenomenon appears with 



Macaluba. 



immense force. The inhabitants of the neigh- 

 bourhood still remember with terror the eruption 

 of 1777* one of the most violent yet known. On 

 the 29th of September were first heard dreadful 

 bellowings all around, while the earth shook to 

 the distance of some miles ; and from the midst 

 of the plain, in which was formed a vast gulf, 

 arose, to the height of about one hundred feet, 

 an immense column of mud; which, at the top, 

 and abandoned by the impulsive force, assumed 

 the form of a large tree. The middle was form- 

 ed of stones of all kinds and sizes, which darted 

 violently and vertically within the body of the 

 column. This terrible explosion lasted half an 

 hour, when it became quiet; but, after a few 

 minutes, resumed its force, and with these inter- 

 mittences continued all the day, but the smoke 

 lasted all the night. During the time of this 

 phenomenon, a pungent odour of sulphurated 

 hydrogen gas was felt at a great distance, to the 



* P. 43. 



