JJOME IV. tUFtf. 415 



lava had been reduced by the intense heat and 

 fermentation. 



" 1802. An eruption from a new aperture, a 

 little under the crater, in the great valley of 

 Bue, accompanied with horrid thunders and 

 tremendous bellowings of the mountain. It 

 ceased in a few days, but the lava ran twelve 

 miles. 



" 1809. After the volcano had, in 1805 and 

 1806, ejected flames and copious smoke, at un- 

 equal intervals, during which some undulating 

 shakes were observable, chiefly in the skirts, 

 and after a perfect calm in 1807, during which 

 I often descended to the bottom of the crater, 

 and to spots before inaccessible; in 1808, the 

 frequent eruptions of flame returned, the most 

 copious being always preceded by prodigious 

 bellowings of the mountain, and subterraneous 

 thunders, not without some shocks sensjbly felt 

 even at Catania. These having continued till 

 March 1809, on the 27th day of that month, 

 after the rise of immense perpendicular columns 

 of smoke, was opened a new orifice, a little under 

 the crater towards the N. w., from which issued 

 a river of fuliginous smoke, in the form of enor- 

 mous balls, with a slow motion, as they were full 

 of powders and sand, which were snatched by 

 the wind and carried even to Messina. After- 



