BOMAIN XII. VOLCANIC. 



matter is found to consist of sal ammoniac, in 

 white and yellowish crystals, and in a tolerably 

 pure state; and many compounds of sal ammo- 

 niac, mingled with very fine volcanic sand, 

 which has prevented this salt from assuming its 

 natural form and colour : the earthy matter is 

 compounded^ in various proportions, of earth, 

 clay, iron, and lime.";q; 



Gioem's 

 account. 



First 

 appearance. 



" Translation, by Dolomieu, of the Narrative 

 of the Chevalier DON JOSEPH GIOENI, 

 Member of various Academies, and an In- 



habitant of the first Region of Etna. 

 .^qot^ wH Jl'J*artte.n!a<ir ' ".-> v;u;J' 



" Interdumque atram prorumpit ad sethera nubem, 

 Turbine fumantem piceo, et candente favilla. 



VIRG. 1. iii. JEn. 



" From the year 1781, the epoch of the last' 

 eruption of Etna, that mountain continued per- 

 fectly inactive ; rarely did smoke ascend from 

 its crater, and even during the earthquakes 

 which destroyed Messina and part of Calabria, 

 the vents of this volcano seemed to be closed. 



"^ About the middle of the last month of June 

 1787, 1 inhabited a country-house in the middle 

 region of the mountain, and daily remarked a 



