^8 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



1586, when the major part of the city again became a 

 heap of ruins, burying under them many of the unfor- 

 tunate inhabitants ; the earth shook with such violence 

 that the tops of the high ridges were torn off, and deep 

 chasms formed in various parts of the level ground. 



" In 1601 a pestilential distemper carried off great 

 numbers. It raged with so much malignity that three 

 days generally terminated the existence of such as were 

 affected by it." 



^' On the 18th of February, 1651, about one o'clock, 

 afternoon, a most extraordinary subterranean noise 

 was heard, and immediately followed by three violent 

 shocks, at very short intervals from each other, which 

 threw down many buildings and damaged others ; the 

 tiles from the roofs of the houses were dispersed in all 

 directions, like light straws by a gust of wind ; the 

 bells of the churches were rung by the vibrations ; mass- 

 es of rock were detached from the mountains ; and 

 even the wild beasts were so terrified, that, losing their 

 natural instinct, they quitted their retreats, and sought 

 shelter from the habitations of men." 



The year 1686 brought with it another dreadful ep- 

 idemic, which in three months swept away a tenth 

 part of the inhabitants." ..." From the capital the pes- 

 tilence spread to the neighbouring villages, and thence 

 to the more remote ones, causing dreadful havoc, par- 

 ticularly among the most robust of the inhabitants." 



" The year 1717 was memorable ; on the night of 

 August 27Lh the mountain began to emit flames, at- 

 tended by a continued subterranean rumbling noise. 

 On the night of the 28th the eruption increased to 

 great violence, and very much alarmed the inhabitants. 

 The images of saints were carried in procession, public 

 prayers were put up, day after day ; but the terrifying 



