NOMt IV. TUFO. 413 



The intelligent Ferrara has given a chrono- 

 logy of the eruptions of Etna ; but has only de- erupts isoo, 

 scribed those of 1800 and 1809 in the following 

 words : 



" 1800. In February, the mountain ejected 

 smoke, with those powders falsely called volcanic 

 cinders and ashes. During the night of the 27th, 

 the inhabitants of Zafarana, situated about the 

 middle of the cone, on the east, were awaked 

 with the horrible explosions of the mountain, 

 and saw rising to a prodigious height immense 

 columns of fire, which often sparkled with long 

 and tortuous lightnings. Their summits ex- 

 panded, and dropped black matter, which burst 

 on the fire beneath. This phenomenon was ac- 

 companied with a tremendous roar, like that of a 

 ruinous hurricane; and a strong west wind which 

 arose, bore to the east all the ejected matter, 

 which formed on the lower skirts rain, sand, and 

 drosses, which, rustling as they fell, occasioned 

 a singular and horrible noise. They deposited a 

 bed half a foot thick. This phenomenon was 

 repeated on the 4th of March ; the eruption of 

 inflamed masses was more copious, and the 

 southern wind carried the dust even to Milazzo. 

 The inhabitants of the places in that direction, 

 but more near the volcano, were greatly incom- 

 moded with this dreadful shower. At Malvagna, 



