486 



DOMAIN XII. VOLCANIC. 



Sea calm. 



Another 

 current. 



the light at Naples was fainter than twilight ; 

 and with Pliny the younger one might have 

 said " Jam dies alibi, illic nox omnibus nigrior 

 densiorque" 



" During this mournful night the air was per- 

 fectly unagitated, and the sea calm: it was not 

 disturbed even in the slightest degree, at least in 

 the gulf of Naples. The slightest action of the 

 volcano on it would have been perceptible at the 

 base of the mountain, and I was within a distinct 

 view of this part of the sea ; but its influence on 

 that element was absolutely null. 



" While one current of lava flowed over the 

 western flank of Vesuvius, spreading ruin and 

 desolation, another fell down its eastern slope, 

 from an opening at an inferior height, and a 

 greater distance from the summit. This current 

 was not visible at Naples ; all that was perceived 

 of it was a great light in the atmosphere, pro- 

 duced by reflection from the rolling fire. At 

 first it took an eastern direction, turned after- 

 wards to the south, and descended to the spot 

 called Cognolo; there it fortunately found the 

 valley of Sorienta, 65 feet wide, 121 deep, and 

 1627 feet long. This valley the lava filled ; but 

 as the volcano still continued to emit fresh mat- 

 ter, the current afterwards spread into the plain 

 of Forte, near to Pozzelle, where it divided into 



