NOME III. INDURATED MUD. 3?7 



surprise of the inhabitants, who did not dare to 

 approach this spot on account of the horrible 

 noises. But many came the following day, and 

 found that the new great orifice had ejected 

 several streams of liquid chalk (creta), which 

 had covered with an ashy crust of many feet all 

 the surrounding space, filling the cavities and 

 chinks. The hard substances ejected were frag- 

 ments of calcareous tufo, of crystallised gyp- 

 sum, pebbles of quartz, and iron pyrites, which 

 had lost their lustre, and were broken in pieces: 

 all these substances form the outward circuit at 

 this day. The unpleasant smell of sulphur still 

 continued ; and the water, which remained in 

 the holes, continued hot for many months ; 

 while a keen smell of burning issued from the 

 numerous orifices around the great gulf, which 

 was now completely filled."* 



In all events, as indurated mud forms, after 

 lava and tufo, the most abundant ejection of 

 volcanoes, it ought to occupy an important sta- 

 tion among their products. It may be divided 

 into two Hyponomes: 1. Entire; 2. Mingled 

 with various substances. 



* Ferr. 45. The name Macaluba is Arabic, signifying the place 

 of spilling or overturning. This phenomenon is mentioned by 

 Solinus ; nay Plato, in his Phoedo, mentions the torrent or spring of 

 mud in Sicily. 



