THE EARTH. 101 



seemed more than usually agitated, yet we ven- 

 tured forward. The gulf of Charybdis, which 

 we approached, seemed whirled round in such a 

 manner, as to form a vast hollow, verging to a 

 point in the centre. Proceeding onward, and 

 turning my eyes to ^Etna, I saw it cast forth large 

 volumes of smoke, of mountainous sizes, which 

 entirely covered the whole island, and blotted out 

 the very shores from my view. This, together 

 with the dreadful noise, and the sulphureous 

 stench, which was strongly perceived, filled me 

 with apprehensions that some more dreadful cala- 

 mity was impending. The sea itself seemed to 

 wear a very unusual appearance : those who have 

 seen a lake in a violent shower of rain covered all 

 over with bubbles, will conceive some idea of its 

 agitations. My surprise was still increased by the 

 calmness and serenity of the weather ; not a 

 breeze, not a cloud, which might be supposed to 

 put all nature thus into motion. I therefore 

 warned my companions that an earthquake was 

 approaching; and, after some time, making for 

 the shore with all possible diligence, we landed at 

 Tropaea, happy and thankful for having escaped 

 the threatening dangers of the sea. 



" But our triumphs at land were of short dura- 

 tion ; for we had scarcely arrived at the Jesuits' 

 College in that city, when our ears were stunned 

 with a horrid sound, resembling that of an infinite 

 number of chariots driven fiercely forward, the 

 wheels rattling, and the thongs cracking. Soon 

 after this, a most dreadful earthquake ensued ; so 

 that the whole tract upon which we stood seemed 



