THE COASTS OF SICILY. 105 



constructing walls of dry stones, which being placed 

 in an oblique position before the current, were in- 

 tended to divert its direction. This method was 

 partially successful, but the Dominican brother, 

 Diego Pappalardo, devised another which promised 

 even better success. The beds of lava become en- 

 cased, as it were, in a sort of solid canal, formed of 

 blocks of cooled lava cemented together. The 

 liquid mass protected by this kind of casing, is able 

 to extend its ravages to a greater distance by pre- 

 serving its fluidity. Dom. Pappalardo conceived that 

 by knocking down these natural dykes at some 

 favourable point, he might open a new channel for 

 these burning waves, and thus dry up the torrent at 

 its very source. Followed by about a hundred active 

 and vigorous men, he made an attack upon the 

 stream not far from the crater with hammers, clubs, 

 and sticks. The heat, however, was so intense, that 

 every man was obliged to fall back to recover his 

 breath after he had struck only two or three blows. 

 However, by continued efforts, and by the aid of 

 iron clamps, they contrived to demolish a portion 

 of the dyke, and in accordance with Pappalardo's 

 expectations, the lava diffused itself through this 

 opening. But the new current turned in the direc- 

 tion of Paterno, and the inhabitants of this town in 

 fear of seeing the scourge which had threatened 

 Catania fall upon themselves, sallied forth armed, 

 and attacking Pappalardo, obliged him and his brave 

 companions to retreat. 



This proceeding was, however, so far successful, 

 that the lava was unable to overwhelm the whole 



