c 3 ] . 
On the 24th of June laft, in the afternoon, I left 
Catania, a town fituated at the foot of mount Etna, 
or as it is now called Mon Gibello, in company with 
lord Fortrofe and the canon ico Recupero, an inge- 
nious prieft of Catania, who is the only perfon there, 
that is acquainted with the mountain : he is actually 
employed in writing its natural hiftory, but I fear 
will not be able to compafs fo great and ufeful an 
undertaking, for want of proper encouragement. 
We palled through the inferior diftridt of the 
mountain called by its inhabitants La Regione Pie- 
montefe. It is well watered, exceedingly fertile and 
abounding with vines, and other fruit trees, where 
the lava, or, as it is called there, the Sciara, has had 
time to foften and gather foil fufficient for vegetation, 
which I am convinced from many obfervations, unlefs 
aflifted by art, does not come to pafs for many ages, 
perhaps a thoufand years or more ; the circuit of 
this lower region, forming the bafis of the great 
volcano, is upwards of one hundred Italian miles. 
The vines of Etna are kept low, quite the reverfe of 
thofe on the borders of Veluvius, and they produce 
a flronger wine, but not in fo great abundance. The 
Piemontefe diftridt is covered with towns, villages, 
monafteries, &c. and is weil peopled, notwithftand- 
ing the danger of fuch a fituation. Catania, fo often 
dellroyed by eruptions of Etna, and totally over- 
thrown by an earthquake towards the end of the lall 
century, has been re-built within thefe fifty years, 
and is now a confiderable town, with at lead; thirty- 
five thoufand inhabitants. I do not wonder at the 
feeming fecurity, with which thefe parts are inhabited, 
having been fo long witnefs to the lame near mount 
B 2 "~ Vefuvius. 
