VULCANO. 
and on the other sinks into the sea. In this valley lig^ 
pumioe-stones are blended witli fragments of black vitreoi^ 
lava, and buried in ashes perfectly white. The blow o 
hammer on these stones produces a loud hoUow soun ’ 
which re-echoes in the neighbouring caverns, and P'®' .j 
tliat the surface is nothing more tlian the arch ot a t ai 
covering an immense abyss. The sound varies according 
tlie thickness of the cmst, which must have considerable soi 
dity to support the weight of the new mountain. This, 
cording to Dolomicu, is higher and steeper than the co| 
which contains the crater of Etna, and its access still mO' 
difficult ; its perpendicular height, however, is not nt'J 
than 2640 feet, half a mile. He represents the crawr 
Vulcano as the most magnificent he ever saw ; and 
lanzani observes that, with the exception ot that ot li-t ^ 
he does not know of any more capacious and majestic.^ 
exceeds a mile in circuit, has an oval mouth, and its gie>» . 
diameter is from the S. E. to the W„ white its dhP* ‘-’"j 
more than a quarter of a mile. The bottom is Ihu, ‘• 
from many places streams of smoke exhale, emitting a stro 
sulphureous vapour. This vast cavity is vciy regul.u, ‘‘t 
as ita entire contents are displayed to the eye, presents 
of the grandest and most imposing spectacles hi nature, 
large stones being rolled down, the mountain rc-ec io 
and on their reaching the bottom, they appear to sink 
fluid. Indeed, with the aid of a glass, two small la 
supposed to be filled with melted sulphur, have been 
covered. The declivity of the interior walls is so 
that, even when there is not any danger from 
scent is next to impossible. Alter considerable dim u j. 
however, this was accomplished by Spallanzani on “C - 
side, the only one accessible. Ele found the botto^, 
be somewhat more than one third of a mile m circ n . 
rence, and of an oval form. The subterraneous noise 
Jtere much louder than on the summit, sounding liKe a 
petuoiH liver foaming beneath, or, rather, like a coni 
stated waves meeting and clashing luriously togeu.j^ 
The c^round was likewise in some places perforated 
apertures, from which liisfmg sounds issued, 
those produced by the bellows of a furnace. It 
when pressed by the feet; and a large piece of lav^ 
fall fit-e or six feet, produced a subterraneous ec« ^ 
sound, which continued some time, and was loudest 
