544 



NATURE 



[October 6, 1892 



On July 16 I started again, with my brother Giovanni, to 

 approach the site of eruption. From Monte Caprioletto, 

 which is about 1200 m. distant, we could observe not 

 only the three principal craters above mentioned, but 

 also two others lower down, which so far had not grown 

 to any important size. 



Approaching still farther, we stopped at about 300 m. 

 off on the west, on a plain upon which grows the Astragalus 

 Siailus, the bushes of which are now covered by large 

 lapilli, and in part are burnt. The crater, which for 

 brevity we will call No. i, gave forth large and continual 

 bursts of dust and scoria from its summit, and also from 

 other points on its northern wall, at the base of which 

 issued a jet of light-grey vapour, which came from a little 

 imbutiform crater separated from the main one by a 

 partition of small size ; from this were ejected a little dust 

 and occasionally stones. The explosions of No. i were 

 not accompanied by loud noises {boati, dellowtftgs), but 



I Also in this last crater the explosions took place from 



: several points of its funnel-shaped cavity; and we saw, 



! at about mid-day of the 17th, much of its southern side 



destroyed by several bursts that took place from that 



point. 



Both of these craters, already of considerable height, 

 had an elliptical base, and specially No. i, the maximum 

 diameter of which is in the direction of the great rift, 

 along which they are distributed. 



The third crater, which we will call No. 3, adjoining the 



I preceding one, presents a large depression to the south. It 



I gave forth frequent bursts of incandescent lava fragments, 



! with a constant noise resembling the constant discharge 



j of much musketry, and accompanied by yellowish-white 



j vapours. The emission of dust was rare, and only occurred 



when the eruptive bursts scored the north side of the 



crater. The fragments of incandescent lava, which in 



this crater were not accompanied by a trail of dust, often 



Sig. Ledru or. August 19, at 100 m. to the north-east of the craters. {S) Crater of Augu 



on July 9. (i) Crater No. I. 



II. (,d) Crater to the west which was in activity only 



by strong and continual roarings like the sea in a tempest. 

 Crater No. 2, more regular in form, gave forth frequent 

 eruptions of dust, with many incandescent projectiles. 

 In the moments of calmbetween one explosion and another 

 a slight white vapour escaped. The first burst of the 

 explosion might be compared to a gigantic pointed jet 

 preceded by black dust and sand, which rose with great 

 rapidity in consequence of the great ascensional velocity 

 which was gradually impeded by the resistance of the air \ 

 then the column of black smoke charged with dust began 

 to open out the immense vortices of compressed vapour 

 which, always rising, assumed an imposing and character- 

 istic aspect. The pieces of scoria were followed by a trail 

 of dust both in their rise and fall, and when they struck 

 the flanks of the mountain as they rolled down, they raised 

 ^■^^^.^'^^ ?^ ^^^^ ^"^ ^^^^ '"°"^ ^ characteristic sound 

 When they were numerous the mountain became all 

 covered by a yellow dust. 



NO. I J 97, VOL. 46] 



were torn asunder in the air, being reduced to frag- 

 ments. 



The discharge of smoke from this crater occurred from 

 the highest part, then there was the point at which oc- 

 curred the numerous explosions of lava, then another jet of 

 smoke, in its turn followed by another point lower down, 

 from which occurred the explosions of the incandescent 

 projectiles that gradually formed a crater, which we will 

 distinguish as No. 4. 



In general, while we were moving about to the westward 

 of the craters On the morning of the 1 7th, the eruption was 

 exhibiting comparatively little energy. Gradually, how- 

 ever, the explosions increased in violence, and the ejecta 

 became more numerous. It is worthy of notice that the 

 smoke, according to the place whence it issued was white, 

 blue, light or dark grey, black, yellow, and even iride- 

 scent. Approaching nearer the craters, we attempted to 

 encircle them on the north, when we found numerous 



