Report of a Journey Around the World. 



119 



or changes in the room where these were kept. The collection of 

 Pompeian and Hercnlanean household utensils did not seem so 

 large or attractive as on my last visit, but a forenoon in Pompeii 

 with a competent guide made up any deficiency. More excavations, 

 and a much better system of repairs and protection than were visible 

 at either of my former visits made the ancient city more attractive. 

 A picture taken by Mr. Wilson from the second story of one of the 

 houses (Fig. 99) shows well the altered outline of Vesuvius from 



IOO. VESUVIUS OBSERVATORY. 



that side since the last eruption. That view was a strong incen- 

 tive to the ascent we made in the afternoon. Thanks to the greater 

 conveniences of travel both can be easily done the same day. 



Vesuvius. 



When I saw Vesuvius in [896 the volcano was in a state of 

 quiet eruption, and at night the red eye where the molten lava 

 issued without explosive- action from the side of the mountain 

 looked down over the Bay of Naples with a weird effect quite 

 mating to one seeing it for the first time. By day the ascent 

 was interrupted by the stream covering the carriage road, and 

 recourse was had to saddle horses whose- path when crossing the 

 slowly moving stream was covered with earth or cinder, which 



