( IJl ) 
erly Winds, during the Autumn, put the Inhabitants 
under great Apprehenfion of future Mifchiefs. And 
indeed, the difaftrous Fate, which befel Sicily about 
the Beginning of 1693, too manifeftly prov’d, that this 
ominous Fear was no way groundlefs. For on Friday* 
the 9th of January, about the 5th Hour (according to 
the Italian Way of counting) after a warm, ferene 
and calm Day, the Earth began trembling all of a hid- 
den, chiefly about Catania , and in fome neighbouring 
Places, for the Time required to fay the Lord’s Prayero 
This firft Shake was accompany’*!, as generally happens 
in Earthquakes, by a hollow, thundering Noife, and 
and fucceeded by another fmall Trembling, obferv’d 
only by fome few People on Saturday, early in the 
Morning.. Thefe two Suceufiions, though violent e- 
no ugh, were but a Prelude of the third, which hap- 
pen’d the nth: of the fame Month, by 4. of the Clock 
in the Afternoon, of which the Apprehenfion was fo 
much the greater, becaufe all the 10th and nth, be- 
tween the firft and third Shake, the Air was more than 
ufual dark and cloudy* This laft was ftupendous beyond 
human Imagination, and it would be a Task too difficult 
for even the ableft Pen, to defcribe all its dreadful Ef- 
fects 3 the violent tolling and dancing of the Earth 3 the 
hollow, thundering Noife threatening the whole Ifland 
with its entire Diffolution 3 the fiery Eruption of the 
burning Adtna throwing out a prodigious Quantity of 
Flames, Stones and Afhes • the Terror and Confufion 
of the diffracted Inhabitants running up and down the 
Streets, uncertain where to provide for their Safe- 
ty, or how to efcape the Fury of all the raging Ele- 
ments,. which feemed to have confpired their Ruin,. 
There was fcarce one Place all over the Kingdom left 
without fome particular Misfortune, Catania , Syracn- 
fa, Agojia , Mefflna , Koto, Ragufa, Leontini , lb la-. 
Chiarumont s, 
