JETN 



IFF 



iETNA, a famous volcanic or burning 

 mountain in Sicily, situated on the eastern 

 coast, not far from Catania. The height 

 of this mountain is above 10,000 feet above 

 the surface of the sea, and its circumfer- 

 ence at the base is 180 miles. Over its 

 sides are 77 cities, towns, and villages, 

 the number of inhabitants of which is 

 -about 115,000. From Catania to the sum- 

 nit is the distance of 30 miles, and the 

 traveller must pass through three distinct 

 climates, which may be denominated the 

 torrid, the temperate, and the frigid. Ac- 

 cordingly, the whole mountain is divided 

 into three distinct regions, called the fer- 

 tile, the woody, and the barren. The 

 first, or lowest region, extends through 

 an interval of ascent from 12 to 18 miles. 

 The city of Catania and several villages 

 are situated in the first zone, and it 

 abounds in pastures, orchards, and vari- 

 ous kinds of fruit trees. Its great fertili- 

 ty is ascribed to the decomposition of la- 

 va, and of those vegetables, which have 

 been introduced by the arts of agriculture, 

 and the exertions of human industry. 

 The figs, and fruit in general, in this re- 

 gion, are reckoned the finest in Sicily. 

 The lava in this region flows from a num- 

 ber of small mountains, which are dis- 

 persed over the immense declivity of ./Et- 

 na. Thp woody region, or temperate 

 xone, extends from 8 to 10 miles in a di- 

 rect line, towards the top of the mountain; 

 it comprehends a surface of about 40 or 

 45 square leagues. It forms a zone of 

 the brightest green all round the moun- 

 tain, which exhibits a pleasing contrast to 

 the white and hoary head of the moun- 

 tain. It is called the woody region, be- 

 cause it abounds with oaks, "beeches, and 

 firs. The soil is similar to that of the 

 lower region. The air here is cool and 

 refreshing, and every breeze is loaded 

 with a thousand perfumes, the whole 

 ground being covered over with the rich- 

 est aromatic plants. Many parts of this 

 region are the most heavenly spots upon 

 earth ; and if JEtna resemble hell within, 

 it may with equal justice be said to re- 

 semble paradise without. The upper re- 

 gion, called the frigid zone, is marked out 

 by a circle of snow and ice. The surface 

 of this zone is for the most part flat and 

 even, and the approach to it is indicated 

 by the decline of vegetation, by uncover- 

 ed rocks of lava and heaps of sand, by 

 near views of an expanse of snow and ice, 

 and of torrents of smoke issuing from the 

 crater of the mountain, and by the diffi- 

 culty and danger of advancing, amidst 

 streams of melted snow, sheets or ice, and 

 ^usts of chilling wind. The curiyns tra- 



veller, however, thinks himself amply re- 

 compensed, upon gaining the summit, for 

 the peril which he has encountered. At 

 night the number of stars seem increased, 

 and their light appears brighter than usu- 

 al. The lustre of the milky way is like a 

 pure flame that shoots across "the hea- 

 vens, and with the naked eye we may ob- 

 serve clusters of stars totally invisible in 

 the lower regions. The scoriae of which 

 the mountain is composed have the same 

 kind of base, containing shorls and felt- 

 spars. 



AFFIDAVIT signifies an oath in writ- 

 ing, sworn before some person who is au- 

 thorised to take the same. 



Jn an affidavit, the time, place of habi- 

 tation, and addition, of the person who 

 makes it are to be inserted. 



Affidavits are chiefly used to certify the 

 serving of processes or other matters con- 

 cerning the proceedings in a court ; and 

 therefore should set forth the matter of 

 fact to be proved, without taking any no- 

 tice of the merits of the cause. They are 

 read in court upon motions, but arc not 

 admitted in evidence at trials. 



1'y statute, the judges of the courts at 

 Westminster may commission persons, in 

 the several counties in England, to take 

 affidavits relating to any thing depending 1 

 in their several courts. 



AFFINITY, among Civilians, denotes 

 the relation of each of the parties mar- 

 ried to the kindred of the other. 



Affinity is distinguished into three kinds. 

 1. Direct affinity, or that subsisting be- 

 tween the husband and his wife's rela- 

 tions, by blood ; or between the wife and 

 her husband's relation, by blood. 2. Se- 

 condary affinity, or that which subsists 

 between the husband and his wife's rela- 

 tions, by marriage. 3. Collateral affinity . 

 or that which subsists between the hus- 

 band and the relations of his wife's rela- 

 tions. The degrees of affinity are always 

 the same with those of consanguinity. 

 Hence, in whatever degree of consangui- 

 nity the kindred of one of the parties mar- 

 ried are, they are in the same degree of 

 affinity to the other. 



By the canon law, direct affinity ren- 

 ders marriage unlawful to the fourth ge- 

 neration, inclusive ; but the case is other- 

 wise, with respect to the secondary and 

 collateral kinds. It is likewise to be ob- 

 served, that the affinity contracted by a 

 criminal commerce is a.n impediment to 

 marriage so far as the second generation: 

 thus, a man is not allowed to marry the 

 sister of a woman he has lain with. Nay, 

 with regard to contracting marriage, uffi- 

 riity is riot dissolved by death ; for though 



