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neighbouring Inhabitants f who, vainly flattering 
themfelves with Hopes, that the inflammable Matter 
was fpent, planted the whole Diftrid: round the 
Mountain, which, by its Fertility, became the De- 
light of thefe Parts. But, in Procefs of Time, they 
found themfelves deceived and fruftrated in their 
Expectations: For in the Year 1631. during fix 
Months Space, continual Rumblings were heard, and 
Shocks of Earthquakes felt : And afterwards, in the 
Month of T)ecembert a dreadful fiery Eruption hap* 
pen’d, which firft blew up Part of the Mountain into 
the Air, in a terrible Manner, and then vomited 
out Water, Afhes, Stones and Firej inundating al- 
moft the whole Country around, to the Sea, and for 
above feven Miles in Breadth, with the irreparable 
Lofs of more than four thoufand People. After 
which the Mountain became filent, and remain’d 
confiderably diminilh’d in its Heighth, from what it 
had been before. 
It continued quiet for twenty-nine Years ; but 
having rekindled in 1660. its Fire fill’d the whole 
Capacity of the immenfe Hollow, which remain’d 
fince the Year 1631 j whence, after feveral lefler 
Eruptions, a new Mountain appear’d in 1685. 
In 1707. not only the Inhabitants of the Neigh- 
bourhood, but alfo the whole City of Naples^ were 
put into great Terror, and not without Reafon, by 
the Apprehenfions of a Renewal of the difmal Tra- 
gedy of 1631. upon account of the frequent Noife 
and Shocks, the Fire feen on the Top of the Moun- 
tain, with a vaft Quantity of Alhes, which iffuing out 
with Impetuofity, were difpcrfed all over our He- 
mifphere, and darken’d the Light of the Sun for one 
H h 2 whole 
