C 25 ] 
upper rim of the hill. At that time the defcent was 
about eighty feet, which Mr. Jamineau meafured 
himfelf. On his fecond vifit, in September, the 
crefcent was turned to a cone, but much higher than 
before, being increafed in proportion to the fire, that 
now difcharged, by frequent explofions, thoufands 
of ftoncs on fire. On a third vifit, in the middle of 
October, the cone feemed lower, which was owing 
to the rifing of the bottom of the cup, whofe depth 
from eighty feet was decreafed to fifty. The lava 
was attually runing in many places ; and where it 
was not, the fire was univerfally vifible within a foot 
or two of the furface. They defcended to the bot- 
tom, and approached the running lava, whofe pro- 
grefs was fo flow, that they fat a full quarter of an 
hour within three yards of it, in its courfe, before 
they were obliged to fliift their places. Such of the 
guides, as had flioes on, ran over the very matter as 
it was proceeding, and it was with difficulty, that Mr. 
Jamineau prevented one of thofe, who had not, from 
doing the fame thing. This he was induced to do 
from a paffage of an infcription at Portici, defcribe- 
ing the courfe and effeds of the lava, <5*/ corripit^ 
aSlum efi^ periijii. Whence he was apprehenfive of 
the effedts of. the matter’s adhering to this man’s feetj 
for he was under no apprehenfion of his finking in, 
fince the upper coat of this fubfiance was fo hard, as 
to bear the throwing the largefi: fiones two of the 
company could lift, with very little impreffion, at the 
fame time that the bottom was penetrable, with eafe, 
to a fmall flick they thruft into it. The running of 
the lava within the crater increafed daily, fo that in 
a month’s time the cup was filled within twenty-five 
VoL. 4p. E feet 
