L. W. Falchcr — On Volcano and Stromboli. 349 



In May, 1887, Dr. Johnston-Lavis visited Vulcano, accompanied 

 by Sig. Platania. 1 They found that the eruption of 1886 had drilled 

 out the crater so that they were unable to descend into it. The 

 floor of the crater was covered by a layer of purplish-grey ash 

 washed down from the sloping sides, and the fissures in it were 

 blowing off steam in great quantity. The edges of the fissures on 

 the bottom and lower part of the sides were covered by a yellow 

 crust of sulphur, boracic acid, etc. 



It presented the same appearance to Prof. Blake, who. however, 

 about the time was enabled to enter the crater by a well-made path. 3 



A very violent eruption occurred in August, 1888. Mr. Narlian 

 wrote an exceedingly graphic description of the phenomena in a 

 letter to Dr. Johnston-Lavis. 3 which has been considered worthy 

 to stand side by side with Pliny the Younger's description of the 

 Vesuvian eruption of a.d. 79. An outburst occurred from the crater 

 on the 3rd of August, and after lasting about a quarter of an hour, 

 ended. This was followed by rushes of thick black smoke at 

 intervals of 20 to 30 minutes, but towards the evening these also 

 ceased. As night approached, the furnaroles on the side of the cone 

 were very active, and began to show flames. Towards morning 

 a tremendous explosion took place, and large incandescent boulders 

 were shot out to a considerable distance, while a burning rain of 

 ashes, lapilli, and stones set light to the trees and vineyards situated 

 ai'ound the base of the cone. Mr. Narlian's house was laid in ruins : 

 a huge boulder falling on the roof crashed its way right through the 

 house. A boulder, not less than ten yards in diameter, was ejected 

 nearly three-quarters of a mile from the crater, and buried itself 

 some 10 or 11 feet in the ground. The volcano became quiet on the 

 6th of August, and remained so for 13 days ; but on the 18th the 

 eruptions recommenced with loud detonations. 



In a later letter of Mr. Narlian's to Dr. Johnston-Lavis, 4 it is 

 stated that the eruptions were still going on in November, and 

 a change in the character of the ejectamenta was noted. At first, 

 stones were being ejected, but afterwards pumice of a dark rough 

 kind. It is worthy of notice that during this eruption Stromboli 

 did not. exhibit the slightest increased activity. 



Shortly afterwards the volcano was visited by Signor Giovanni 

 Platania, together with Prof. Silvestri and other gentlemen. 5 The 

 crater did not occupy the central part of the cone, but opened more 

 to the west, and its internal walls showed several beds of altered 

 materials of old eruptions. It was deeper than in 1887. The 

 bottom was formed of enormous blocks of old altered lavas and 

 furrowed by large fissures which were blowing off steam very 

 actively. The coloured sublimations which covered the bottom and 

 walls of the crater in 1887 had disappeared. Eruptions occurred 

 with a loud noise at intervals of a few seconds. A grey "smoke" 

 arose from the bottom of the crater, consisting of ashes accompanied 



1 Nature, vol. xxxviii. pp. 13, 14. 2 Proc. Geol. Assoc, vol. xi p. 176. 



3 Brit. Assoc. Report, 1888, pp. 665-6. 4 Nature, vol. xxxix. p. 111. 



5 La Nature, 1888, 2 e sem. pp. 198 aud 359. 



