682 



KINGDOM OF NAPLES. 



Maccaluba, near Girgenli. The rivers of Sicily are mere rivulets. The heavy winter rains 

 set the mountain torrents runnmg, but when dry, their beds become tolerable roads, to the dis- 

 tance of 3 or 4 miles inland. 



The Lipari Islands lie between Sicily and the continent. They are 12 in number ; a part 

 of them only are inhabited. Lipari^ the principal isle, contains 112 square miles ; it is moun- 

 tainous, and the soil is rendered fertile by a subterranean Are. There was once a volcano here. 

 The island of Slroinboli is a volcano, that burns without ceasing. Volcano constantly emits 

 smoke. The island of Capri in the Bay of Naples, contains 10 square miles. It consists o 

 two high rocky mountains, enc.osing a fertile valley. In the time of the Romans, it was adorned 

 with magnificent palaces. Ischia and Procida are fertile islands, in the same neighborhood. 



5. Bays and Gulfs. The Gulf of Taranto is a semicircular bay at the southeastern ex- 

 tremity of Italy ; it is 100 miles in extent. The bays of J^aplcs and Salerno., on the western 

 coast, are much smaller. 



6. Climate. On the continent, a perpetual spring seems to prevail. Vegetation is never 

 interrupted ; in the depth of winter, the fields are green, the orange trees in blossom, the balmy 

 air is filled with the fragrance of blooming shrubs and flowers, and the sea reflects a clear, blue 

 sky. From May to September the heat is intense. On the highest mountains the snow some- 

 times lies from October till May. In Sicily, the heat of summer is diminished by sea-breezes, 

 but when the Sirocco blows, all vegetation dies away. Rain seldom falls, but the dews are co- 

 pious. The nights are cold, but it never freezes except upon the mountains. 



7. Soil. There is an indescribable richness of vegetation throughout this country. Here 

 flourish the fig-tree, the almond, the cotton plant, and sugar-cane. Sicily is one of the most 

 productive spots on the earth. The soil is calcareous, and its fertility is much increased by 

 volcanic fire. 



8. JMinerals. This country does not appear to be rich in minerals, and among those that 

 have been discovered, few are wrought. There are some iron mines near Naples, and sulphur, 

 alum, marble, alabaster, puzzolana, and salt are produced here. 



9. Divisions. The kingdom is divided into 21 provinces, which are subdivided into 75 

 districts. Of the former, 15 are in the continental part, and compose the Domains this side 

 the Faro (Dominj al di qua del Faro) ; and 6 in Sicily, constituting the Domains beyond the 

 Faro. The Sicilian provinces are Palermo, Messina, Catania, Syracuse, Caltanisetta, and 

 Trapani, called from their chief towns. Those of Naples are the First and Second Farther 

 Abruzzo, Hither Abruzzo, Terra di Lavoro, Molise, Naples, the Farther and Hither Princi- 

 pato, Capitanata, Bari, Otranto, Basilicata, the First and Second Farther Calabria, and Hither 

 Calabria. 



10. Cities. JVaples, the capital, is the largest city in Italy. It stands at the bottom of a 

 bay, and with its suburbs and contiguous villages extends 6 or S miles along the water. On 

 the land side it is surrounded by mountains. Nothing can surpass the beauty of the bay or the 

 prospect of the city viewed from the water, where it appears broken into great masses, and 

 crossed by long lines of palaces, hanging gardens, and terraced roofs ; the outline upon the sea 

 is strikingly indented, the shipping is clustered behind the moles, and castles and towers rise on 

 the points of projection. The shores of the bay are covered with interesting ruins, and broken 

 into graceful inlets. The dark towering summit of Vesuvius rises, frowning over the landscape, 

 while its lower regions are covered with the richest vegetation, and dotted with white country 

 houses. The whole circuit of the bay is edged with white towns, and covered with cultiva- 



the mountain, irritate his lungs, and tlireaten suffocation. 

 Clouds of smoke, issuing from the crater, roll down its 

 side, and involve him in a pitchy atmosphere; and to add 

 to the horror of the scene, terriiic sounds are continually 

 issuing from the very centre of the n\ountain, resounding 

 like discharges of artillery in the vast abyss. This part of 

 the journey is generally performed in tlie night, in order 

 to arrive at the summit at an early hour. The traveler, 

 an hour before sunrise, reaches a ruined structure called 

 the Philosopher's Tower. Here, sheltered from the fury 

 of the blast, he may sit down to recruit his exhausted 

 strength, and examine the objects around him. The for- 

 ests below still appear like a dark gulf encompassing the 

 mountain; the unclouded sky is faintly irradiated, and 

 the immense vault of heaven is stretched above in awful 

 majesty. The stars seem increased in number and magni- 



tude, and their light appears uncommonly bright, while 

 the milky way shoots across the heavens like a pure 

 flame. On ascending the summit of the crater, all that is 

 wonderful, sublime, and beautiful in nature bursts upon 

 the astonished eye." — Bell. 



The diameter of the visible horizon from this spot, ia 

 2fi0 miles. The island of Malta appears on the edge of the 

 horizon ; but it is not true, as stated by Brydone, that the 

 African coast may be discovered. The greatest eruption 

 of .^Etna, in late years, took place in 18J2. Another, in 

 181!), formed a current of lava GO feet in breadth on the 

 mountain, and 1,200 at its base. It desolated the country 

 to the distance of six miles, and set fire to the trees which 

 it touched. Stones were thrown out of the crater to the 

 height of ] ,000 feet. 



