C *3^ 3 
perpendicular Helghth above the Level of the Sea, 
This is the Bafis of the Mountain, out of which 
arifes another, called by the People of the Country 
Monte 'uecchiOi whofe perpendicular Heighth is about 
four hundred Paces, and its Top little lefs than two 
Miles in Circumference, of an irregular figure. 
The faid Top, before the Year 1631. was of the 
Form of a Bafon, but all furrounded with aged 
Oaks, and vaftly large Cheftnut-trees, whofe Fruit 
afforded Food fufficient for a Number of Cattle that 
fed thereon. In the Bottom a Cavern was obferved, 
into which People defcended above two' hundred 
Paces, by difficult and interrupted Paths i and this 
Opening was looked upon as the antient Mouth, 
which for a long Space of Time had conftantly caft 
up great Quantities of bituminous Matter, and had 
at the fame time burnt a confiderable Part of the 
neighbouring Country, cultivated by the Inhabitants 
round the Hill. 
Concerning the Eruptions that have happened here- 
tofore, they are very numerous, as well antient as 
modern. 
Of the firft, feveral are taken Notice of by Be- 
roj'us ChaldieuS:, BolybiuSy Strabo in the time of jiiu- 
gujlus, T>iodoruSy and Vitruvius '■> and in Trajan s 
Reign the Name of the Mountain became more 
famous by the Death of Tliny. From that time 
forward, 'tis not doubted, that the Eruptions were 
lefs frequent down to the Year 11395 when, after a 
confiderable Eruption, it began to take Reft, and 
continued quiet lomewhat lefs than five Centuries j 
fo that the horrid Remembrance of the paft Ruins 
was pretty well obliterated out of the Minds of the 
neigh- 
