346 



MOUNT VESUyiUS, 



Late euipnon spcctocio of an ernption of Vosnvius. A column of very black 



of Mouut Ve- , „ - , , . , . ^ , 



suvius. smoke rose irom tne crater about ten oclock ; flashes now and 



. ' then burst from this colmnn ; fit longtli the eruption appeared 



jn a mass of flame, of immense diameter, and occupying the 

 whole vast extent of the crater. This mass was kept up by 

 successive emission of whitish flame, which, as it rose into the 

 air, assumed a more intense red colour. Ignited or melted 

 substances, some of which w^re opaque, were projected with 

 violence above this body of fire, and often fell beyond the cir- 

 cumference of the crater. At midnight there was not as yet 

 any current of lava, but frequent rumblings v.^ere heard. 



On the 1st of June, the eruption continued the whole morn- 

 ing, and we resolved to visit the mountain the following night. 

 We set out at eight in the evening. We took horse at Resi- 

 na, near the descent to Herculaneum, and proceeded towards 

 the residence of the hermit. The house in which he lives is 

 situated near the southern peak of Mount Somma, being an 

 easy ride of an hour and a half from Resina. 



On leaving the hermitage, we proceeded across the valley 

 which separates Somma from Vesuvius, and is known by the 

 appellation of A trio del Cavallo. It is of no great depth^ 

 being almost entirely filled with the lavas of successive erup- 

 tions, piled one above another. At length we reached the 

 foot of Vesuvius, where we left our horses, and began to ascend 

 on foot. 



The declivity is very steep, and difficult of ascent, on ac- 

 count of the moveable nature of the ground on which you walk^ 

 being nothing but a mixture of ashes and fragments of lava» 

 without consistency. After great fatigue we reached the sum- 

 mit, and arrived at one of the edges of the crater. 



We had been lighted the whole way by eruptions of the 

 mountain, wWch were projected to a very great height. Vio- 

 lent rumblings that were continually heard, added to the gran- 

 deur and the awfulness of the spectacle, which appeared much 

 more beautiful and majestic from the point to which we had 

 "limbed with so much difficulty. 



Suspended as it were on the brink of the crater, nothing in- 

 posed to prevent our view of the eruptions. We beheld im- 

 nse masses of flame issuing almost from under our feet, ris- 

 ing above the clouds, and carrying with them, to the same 



height, 



