ITALY. LETTER XI. 1^1 



fort, dug near Naples and Torre dell* anncnziata, 

 is black ; and that which is found near Puzzofa 

 is grey. This is as fine and impalpable* as 

 flour. 



After this defcription of a country which is 

 produced by volcanic eruptions, I come to Veftt* 

 oius, the only volcano Hill burning. This moun- 

 tain is very high, and entirely conic, (landing with 

 the adjacent lava-hills Monte Somma and Ottajano^ 

 ifolate between the Apennines and the fea. Its 

 exterior fides confift of lava, which towards the 

 fea, to a great depth, is covered with black| fand 

 and fmall (tones (Rena e lapilU)> or black afhes 

 and fmall lava pieces. The top is ever fmoking, 

 and changed by almoft every eruption. During 

 thofe of 1685 and 1689, a conical hill, five hun- 

 dred palmi high, was raifed in its funnel, wherein 

 it was fwallowed up, and difappeared foon after. 

 P. La Torre and Abbate Eotis have given its 

 figure. The circumference of the funnel is very 

 large after the laft eruptions. Its form is elliptical, 

 and refembles in the inner part an inverted cone. 

 Defcending feveral fathoms into it, you meet with 

 a floor or roof of lava, which covers the deeper 

 holes. Its ftrength and thicknefs are unknown. 

 It is cracked and broken in feveral places ; and 

 two fiffures, efpecially a long one gaping about 

 a foot, continually throw out fmoke, heat, fla- 

 K 2 zning 



