42 A HISTORY OF 



But if we regard this astonishing scene of terror with a more trail 

 quil and inquisitive eye, we shall find that these conflagrations are 

 produced by very obvious and natural causes. We have already been 

 apprised of the various mineral substances in the bosom of the earth, 

 and their aptness to burst out into flames. Marcasites and pyrites, in 

 particular, by being humified with water or air, contract this heat, and 

 often endeavour to expand with irresistible explosion. These, there- 

 fore, being lodged in the depths of the earth, or in the bosom of moun 

 tains, and being either washed by the accidental influx of waters be 

 low, or fanned by air, insinuating itself through perpendicular fissures 

 from above, take fire at first by only heaving in earthquakes, but at 

 length by bursting through every obstacle, and making their dreadful 

 discharge in a volcano. 



These volcanoes are found in all parts of the earth : in Europe 

 there are three that are very remarkable : ./Etna in Sicily, Vesuvius 

 in Italy, and Hecla in Iceland. ./Etna has been a volcano for ages 

 immemorial. Its eruptions are very violent, and its discharge has 

 been known to cover the earth sixty-eight feet deep. In the year 

 1537) an eruption of this mountain produced an earthquake through 

 the whole island for twelve days, overturned many houses, and at last 

 formed a new aperture, which overwhelmed all within five leagues round. 

 The cinders thrown up were driven even into Italy, and its burnings 

 were seen at Malta at the distance of sixty leagues. " There is nothing 

 more awful," says Kircher, " than the eruptions of this mountain, nor 

 nothing more dangerous than attempting to examine its appearances, 

 even long after the eruption has ceased. As we attempt to clamber 

 up its stcepy sides, every step we take upward, the feet sink back 

 half way. Upon arriving near the summit, ashes and snow, with an 

 ill-assorted conjunction, present nothing but objects of desolation. 

 Nor is this the worst, for, as all places are covered over, many caverns 

 are entirely hidden from the sight, into which if the inquirer happens 

 to fall, he sinks to the bottom, and meets inevitable destruction. Upon 

 coming to the edge of the great crater, nothing can sufficiently repre- 

 sent the tremendous magnificence of the scene. A gulf two miles 

 over, and so deep that no bottom can be seen ; on the sides pyramidi- 

 cal rocks starting out between apertures that emit smoke and flame ; 

 nil this accompanied with a sound that never ceases, louder than 

 thunder, strikes the bold with horror, and the religious with venera- 

 tion for HIM that has power to control its burnings." 



In the descriptions of Vesuvius, or Hecla, we shall find scarcely any 

 thing but a repetition of the same terrible objects, but rather lessened, 

 as these mountains are not so large as the former. The crater of Ve- 

 suvius is but a mile across, according to the same author ; whereas 

 that of ./Etna is two. On this particular, however, we must place no 

 dependence, as these caverns every day alter ; being lessened by the 

 mountain's sinking at one eruption, and enlarged by the fury of another. 

 It is not one of the least remarkable particulars respecting Vesuvius, 

 that Pliny the naturalist was suffocated in one of its eruptions ; for his 

 curiosity impelling him too near, he found himself involved in smoke 

 and cinders when it was too late to retire ;- and his companions hard- 

 ly escaped to give an account of the misfortune. It was in that dread 



