134 EARTHQUAKES IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTUEY. [Ch.XXIX. 



convulsions, for 



running 



water to clear away tlie ruins 



caused by landslips, otherwise the fallen masses will serve 

 as buttresses, and prevent the succeeding earthquake from 

 exerting its full power. The sides of the valley must be 

 again cut away by the stream, and made to form precipices 

 and overhanging cliffs, before the next shock can take effect 

 in the same manner. 



Fall of the sea-cliffs. — Along the sea-coast of the Straits of 



Messina 

 masses < 

 many vi 



At Gian Greco, a continuous line 



own down. 



Great 



of cliff, for a mile in length, was 

 agitation was frequently observed in the bed of the sea 

 during the shocks, and, on those parts of the coast where the 

 movement was most violent, all kinds of fish were taken in 

 abundance, and with uniisual facility. Some rare species, as 

 that called Cicirelli, which usually lie buried in the sand, 

 were taken on the surface of the waters in great quantity. 

 The sea is said to have boiled up near Messina and to have 

 been agitated as if by a copious discharge of vapours from 

 its bottom. 



Shore near Scilla inundated. — The prince of Scilla had 

 persuaded a great part of his vassals to betake themselves to 

 their fishing-boats for safety, and he himself had gone on 

 board. On the night of February 5, when some of the people 

 were sleeping in the boats, and others on a level plain slightly 

 elevated above the sea, the earth rocked, and suddenly a 

 great mass was torn from the contiguous Mount Jaci, and 

 thrown down with a dreadful crash upon the plain. Im- 

 mediately afterwards, the sea. 



rising more than 20 



feet 



foamin 



swept away the multitude. It then retreated, but soon 

 rushed back again with greater violence, bringing with it 



of the neonle and animnls it hnd pnrriprl a.wav. At the 



some 



same 



some 01 them 



The aged prince 



with 1,430 of his people, was destroyed. 

 State of Stromboli and Etna during the 



habitants of Pizzo remarked that, on February 5, 1783, 



The in- 



I 



