392 DOMAIN XII. VOLCANIC. 



two towards the south, and all in divergent radii 

 from the crater; but observing them afterwards 

 with a good telescope, I perceived that the three 

 supposed currents of lava were no other than 

 masses of scorise heaped together during the 

 eruption, which continued to burn on the flanks 

 of the cone, and which became extinct at four 

 in the morning. 



<f A second eruption seemed to announce it- 

 self on the following day, when, at noon, an 

 immense number of whirling clouds of white 

 smoke issued from the crater, spread themselves 

 from east to west, and by three o'clock attained 

 an immense elevation ; it seemed as though they 

 would cover the city of Catania ; but they 

 merely terminated in flashes of lightning, similar 

 to those of the day before, rather more pale, and 

 which issued from the more, elevated globes. I 

 afterwards understood, that in the second and 

 third region, some aqueous clouds uniting with 

 the smoke, a very violent rain fell mingled with 

 volcanic matters, differing in a small degree 

 from the first; in the space of an hour, the 

 whole was dissipated, and the mountain was 

 clear. 



" The ordinary flames continued during the 

 night of the 20th of July ; they somewhat in- 

 creased at two in the morning, and even assumed 



