182 An Excursion on Etna. 
_ Our prospects were bad, and worst of all the apex of the cone 
was now invisible, while heavy masses of white vapor were con- 
stantly precipitated on it from the fresh portions of air which the 
wind brought in contact with the whole mountain side. We 
gained the “ Casa Inglese,”” English house, just before four o’clock 
and were glad to find a shelter from the fierce wind under its 
gable—the only portion which was not buried inthe snow. There 
was the cone immediately before us and at our feet—should we 
go up? pride said. “ yes’—discretion and the guide said “no.” 
If the wind at the base would hardly allow us to keep our feet, 
what would it be on the unprotected summit 1300 feet higher? 
We concluded to wait for if we left our present position and 
gained the clouds we should not see the sun rise at all, nor any 
thing else. The whole horizon over Catania and Calabria was 
so hung with mist that we could see nothing distinctly. So we 
had no alternative but to wait where we were, in the hope that 
the rising gun would dispel the clouds and vapors and then ascend. 
At 4h 2 e sun appeared. It was a glorious sight. The 
dull clouds over the horizon were of a lovely purple and gold 
while a faint rosy light tinged the wastes of snow about us with 
an illusive warmth, But the glory was transient, the envious 
clouds shrouded his too brilliant glories, while the mists over Etna 
seemed every instant to thicken. We tried the temperature of 
the air and snow and found it to be —7° C.=209 F. At Catania 
on Thursday it had been 94° We had in fact, by an ascent of 
— feet, made a difference of near 70° of temperature in a few 
ours. 
There was therefore no alternative, we must abandon the idea 
above. We had explored this vast gulf from below and were 
desirous of seeing what proportion it bore to the general surface 
of This we had hoped to do from above on the upper 
cone—the next best thing was to see it from the verge of the 
bounding precipice. Our path lay before the wind which was 
So violent that it was easy to keep upa full run and the loose 
snow kicked up by our feet was driven before us quite like a sno 
Storm. It was near a mile to the edge of the precipice. Th 
been advised by Dr. Gemmellaro to keep my eyes shut until the 
guide placed me in a position to see the gulf and then to look @ 
Sry 7g the best way to obtain a vivid impression. is 
