650 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO 17 II. 



roaring noise under ground, sulphureous exhalations, an insupportable stench, 

 and a black smoke, which rose out of the sea with flames to the height of 10 

 or 12 cubits. The sea was then so tossed backwards and forwards, by the 

 terrible shocks of the earth, that it overflowed and destroyed 30000 perches of 

 land in Santorini ; and the air was so infected with exhalations, which came 

 from the fire, that 25 persons, and a great many beasts, were stifled. At last, 

 when this island had not above 8 or 10 fathom of water to rise, so as to appear 

 above the surface of the sea, the force of the subterraneous fire was so violent 

 as to open a passage before its time, by which the water of the sea entering in 

 like a torrent, extinguished the fire, and in consequence this mass of earth and 

 stones rose no higher. 



How great soever the fright of the inhabitants of Santorini was, at the first 

 sight of this new island, yet a few days after, not seeing any appearance either 

 of fire or smoke, some of them, more bold than the rest, took a resolution to 

 go and view its situation : which they did accordingly ; and not imagining any 

 danger, went on shore upon it. As they had no other design, but to satisfy 

 their curiosity, they passed from one rock to another, on which they met with 

 several remarkable curiosities ; among which we may reckon a sort of white 

 stone, which cuts like bread, and resembles it so well in form, colour, and con 

 sistence, that were it not for its taste any one would take it for real bread. But 

 what pleased them more, was a great number of fresh oysters which they found 

 sticking to the rocks ; which being very scarce in that country, by reason of 

 the depth of the sea, they got as many of them as they could. 



While they were busy about this, they perceived the island move and shake 

 under their feet. This was sufficient to make them quit it immediately, and to 

 return back faster than they came. In short, the rising of the island was visible 

 to the eye, and it increased not only in height, but also in length and breadth. 

 Though it was already between 1 5 and 20 feet high above the sea, it could not 

 yet be seen from the mountain Merovigli, or the castle of Scaro, which stands 

 on the shore, by the intervention of the lesser Kammeni. But 15 days after, 

 they began to see it from Merovigli, and in a few days, from the castle of 

 Scaro, situated upon another mountain, which, though it be very high, in re- 

 spect to the sea, yet it is much lower than that of Merovigli, to which it joins. 

 From whence we may judge how much this new island increased in height in a 

 few days. 



I- As the motion, by which this island increased every day in height, was some- 

 times equal, and at other times unequal, in respect to all the parts of so great a 

 mass; so it did not always rise equally on every side. It often happened, that 

 while it augmented in height and length on one side, it sunk down and de- 



