( ^79 ) 



The only place in Europe, which, in the 

 abiindiince of its pumices, can equal, or 

 perhaps furpafs Lipari, is the ifland of San- 

 torine. On this fubjedt we may confalt 

 Thevenot and Tournefort, two intelligent 

 travellers, who at different periods examined 

 this ifland, which has not hitherto, to my 

 knowledge, been conlidered by volcanifts 

 in this point of view. 



The former, who vifited Santorine in 

 1655, obferves, that " many of the inha- 

 bitants live in caves, made under the earth, 

 which is extremely light, and eafily dug 

 into, as it confifts entirely of pumices." 

 He afterwards relates a fad:, which has a 

 particular relation to our prefent fubjed:, 

 fince it teaches us in what manner thefe 

 light flones may be thrown up, immediately 

 by the fea, in volcanic eruptions. His ac- 

 count is as follows : 



" About eighteen years ago, oh a Sunday 

 ^' night, a violent noife began to be heard 

 *' in the port of Santorine, which was like- 



N 2 ** wife 



