of Dust arid Ashes. 
331 
de l’Afrique, par un vent impetueux du S.E., qui l’a 
poussee jusqu* au-dela la raer Mediterranee.”* It is 
stated further, that similar dust fell in Italy in 1807 and 
1813; and that whilst the eruption was in operation, 
a frightful whirlwind occurred in the desert and destroyed 
a caravan ; which was also the case in 1807 and 1813. 
The question is, whether the conclusion of the Paler¬ 
mo observers is satisfactory? I conceive not. Because 
if it depends upon the case of 1813, as the whirlwind of 
that year occurred between Anjileh and Ouadarf (10°— 
30° N., and about 25° E.), if the dust came there from 
Africa, it must have traversed at least 1000 miles, with¬ 
out leaving a trace elsewhere of its progress. The situa¬ 
tion of the respective localities, with the direction of the 
wind, ofter also difficulties in admitting this conclusion. 
It is true that Etna was not in eruption in 1813, but 
\ esuvius was from May to December; and in several 
works the ashes of 1813 are attributed to that volcano. 
In 1805 and 1811, caravans also perished in the 
desert: Etna was in eruption also on both occasions. 
On 2/th October, 1811, ashes were carried by a violent 
gale also from the south , as far as Messina (to N.E.) in a 
right line, 50 miles distant.;}; 
Now it is more rational to imagine that the south wind, 
caused by the heat of the volcano, brought ashes thrown 
out to the south by the eruption, than that the volcano 
should not erupt ashes, and dust be brought all the way 
from the desert of Africa. We have already seen that 
the volcanoes of Italy do eject ashes all round the moun¬ 
tain ; and, in the description of the eruption of 1699, we 
find Lord Winchelsea stating, that “ that night I lay 
* Bulletin des Sciences Naturelles, xxii. 392, and Bulletin de la 
Soc. Geog. de France, xiii. 307. 
t M‘Queen’s Africa, p. 8. 
J Hughes's Travels in Albania, i. 15. 
