§ 15. THE VAL DEL BOVE. 



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discharged from the crater, on the western side, divided into 

 numerous streams. Next morning, repeated earthquakes, 

 the increased noise of the lava, which now flowed rapidly, 

 and the immense volumes of thick black smoke at the foot 

 of Monte Scavo, announced that the eruption had greatly 

 increased in violence, and several streams of lava were seen 

 descending. On the 2d of November, contrary to all ex- 

 pectation, the eruption ceased, and the lava was found to be 

 so far cooled, that several adventurous observers were 

 enabled to get upon it, and walk a few paces. On the 3d, 

 the hope that the fire was almost extinct was nearly certain ; 

 but, in the evening, a violent earthquake, followed by several 

 smaller ones, with a fresh quantity of smoke, foretold a fresh 

 eruption ; and two hours before midnight, another severe 

 shock occurred, and was succeeded by black smoke mingled 

 with flames, and incessant thunder. 



"Having approached," says Signor di Luca, "as nearly 

 as was prudent, to the hollow from which the fire issued, we 

 found four apertures, which threw out burning matter. 

 Raising our eyes from these vents, we observed a cleft 

 or rent, about a mile in length, from which volumes of 

 smoke arose from time to time ; and, as at the bottom it 

 reached the openings above mentioned, it enabled us to 

 behold the burning furnace in the interior of the mountain. 

 Meanwhile, the thunder was incessant, and the detonations 

 were terrible ; the lava continued to flow ; and enormous 

 masses of red-hot substances were thrown to a great height, 

 mingled with vast volumes of flame and smoke. The shocks 

 of earthquake were likewise so violent, that horses, and other 

 animals, fled in terror from the places where they were 

 feeding." 



15. The Val del Bove. — But by far the most interest- 

 ing feature of Etna is an immense depression or excavation 

 on the eastern side of the mountain, called the Val del 

 Bove. This vast plain or rather circular hollow, is five 



