NOME IV. TUFO. 383 



days ; it occupied a space on the slope of two 

 miles ; became, on cooling, grey and shining ; 

 and for a time all ceased. 



" In the night between the 9th and 10th, an 

 aurora borealis was distinguished, which was 

 visible for the space of half an hour, and was 

 repeated ; it was largely spread and covered the 

 whole horizon from Monte Rosso as far as Noto : 

 its colour was that of light, but somewhat deeper, 

 and its direction being the same as that of the 

 eruption which it preceded, many conceived it 

 to be connected with it, and even foretold that it 

 would happen. 



" In effect, on the 13th, a black and thick 

 smoke was again seen on the summit, which pro- 

 gressively increased, and fire was shot forth 

 more frequently and in greater abundance ; but, 

 in the morning of the 16th, though the glare of 

 the sun and the thickness of the smoke prevent- 

 ed part of the active fire, which issued from the 

 mouth of the volcano, from being seen, the ex- 

 treme heat of the atmosphere, the noise from 

 the mountain, and the subterranean explosions 

 which shook the whole of its base, announced 

 the violence of the eruption being at its acme ; 

 still this was not the case until the next day, 

 and at ten at night it presented a most terrible, 

 but, at the same time, a most interesting spec- 



