3^5 Defcription of sEtna. [Book VI. 



each fide is computed at about thirty miles, and the 

 circumference of its bafe, at one hundred and thirty- 

 three ; but as it has never been meafured with . any 

 great degree of accuracy, its dimenfions are but imper- 

 fectly known. 



c The whole mountain is divided into three diftinft 

 regions, called La Regions Cult a y or Piedmcntefe, the 

 fertile regions j La Regicna byfoofa, or Newer cfa, the 

 woody region ; and La Regiona Deferta> or Sccperta, 

 the barren region. Thefe differ as materially both 

 in clirnat, and production as the three zones of the 

 earth, and perhaps v/ith equal propriety might have 

 been filled the torrid, the temperate, and the frigid 

 zone. 



f The frrft region of ./Etna furrounds the bafe of the 

 mountain, and constitutes ihe mod fertile country in 

 the wo^ld on all fides of it, to the extent of fourteen 

 or fifteen miles, where the woody region begins. It 

 is compofed almoft entirely of lavn, which, in timej 

 becomes the moft fertile of all foils, but the roads, 

 which are entirely over old lavas, now converted 

 into orchards, vineyards, and corn-fields, are execra- 

 ble. The lavas, which form this region, arife from a 

 number of beautiful little mountains, every where 

 fcattered over the immenfe declivities of /Etna. Thefe 

 are all either of a conical or femifpherical figure, and 

 are in general covered with beautiful trees, and the 

 moil luxurious verdure. The formation of them is 

 owing to the internal fires of ./Etna, which raging for 

 a vent, at fo vaft a diftance from the great crater that 

 it cannot poflibly be carried to the height of twelve or 

 thirteen thoufand feet, which is probably the height 

 of the fummit of /Etna, muft neceilarily be difcharged 

 at fome other orifice. After lhaking the mountain, 

 and its neighbourhood for fome time, at length the 



fire 



