( 7 '« ) 
South-Weft, whence we rode four or five Miles before 
we came to the burning River, which was about Mid- 
Night. The Roaring of the VolcAno grew exceeding 
loud and horrible as we approach’d. I obferved a Mix- 
ture of Colours in the Cloud over the Crater^ green, 
yellow, red and blue; there was likewife a ruddy dif- 
mal Light in the Air over that Trad of Land where 
the burning River flowed ; Allies continually Ihower’d 
on us all the way from the Sea-Coaft. All which Cir- 
cumftances, fet oT and augmented by the Horror and Si- 
lence of the Night, made a Scene the moft uncommon 
and aftonilhing I ever law; which grew ftill more ex- 
traordinary as we came nearer the Stream. Imagine 
a vaft Torrent of liquid Fire rolling from the Top down 
the Side of the Mountain, and with irrefiftible Fury 
bearing down and confuming Vines, Olives, Fig-trees, 
Houles, in a word, every thing that ftood in its way. 
This mighty Flood divided into different Channels, ac- 
cording to the Inequalities of the Mountain. The lar- 
geft Scream feem’d half a Mile broad at leaft, and five 
Miles long. The Nature and Confiftence of thefe burn- 
ing Torrents hath been deferibed, with fo much Exadt- 
nels and Trudi, by BorelluSg in his Latin Treatife of 
Aloiifit Mim. that 1 need fay nothing of it. I walked 
fo far before my Companions, up the Mountain along 
tbs fide of the River of Fire, that I was oblig’d to re- 
tire in great hafte, the fulphureous Steam having lur- 
priz'd me and almoft taken away my Breath. Du- 
ring our -Return, which was about Three-a-Clock in the 
Morning, we conftantly heard the Murmur and Groan- 
ing of the Mountain, which between whiles would 
burft out into iouder Peals, throwing up huge Spouts 
of Fire and burning Scones, which failing down again 
refembled the Stars in our Rockets. Sometimes 1 ob- 
Y y y y y ferv’d 
