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are at no loss to suppose the production of this aerial body arising from the 
sea-water when it has forced its way through the sides of the volcanic cavern. 
is very rich and even inexhaustible; for wherever the ground about the craters of Vulcano and Vulca- 
canello is but slightly turned, fine clods of sulphur are found; which are larger and more numerous the 
deeper the earth is dug into. My own observations have in this particular sufficiently confirmed the 
testimony of the people of Lipari: as I was convinced, in my different visits to the island, that in the 
very places from which the sulphur had been extracted, after a short time it is re-produced. 
“ The real cause why the inhabitants of Lipari no longer continued this work was, that the ground, 
which on the surface is more or less warm, grows hotter the deeper it is dug into, and, at the depth 
of five or six feet, becomes so hot as to be almost insupportable; to which is to be added the offensive 
stench of the sulphureous fumes that issue in great abundance from these excavations. If this mineral 
was once extracted here to great advantage, as we are assured by history, it seems certain that these 
difficulties could not then exist. 
f< Continuing my journey towards the south from these forsaken furnaces, and having mounted a short 
but steep ascent, a second, but a much more spacious plain opened before me, which was every where 
sandy, except that a few erratic lavas were thinly scattered over it. Beyond it rose a considerable 
eminence, which when I had ascended, the noblest spectacle Vulcano can offer presented itself to my 
view, I mean its crater. Except that of Etna, I know none more capacious and majestic. It exceeds 
a mile in circuit, the mouth is oval, and its greatest diameter is from the south-east to the west. This 
mountain externally has the form of a direct cone, and its crater that of a cone inverted. The height 
of the internal sides from the bottom to the top is more than a quarter of a mile. From the top, the 
bottom may be seen, which is flat, and from many places in it exhale streams of smoke, that rise above 
the crater, and emit a sulphureous odour which may be perceived at a considerable distance. 
“ After having made the circuit of the upper circumference of the crater, I became desirous to enter 
it, and descended to the bottom, to examine the internal parts; the southern side, which is not very 
steep, appearing to invite to such examination. I was not willing however to undertake such an 
adventure alone, but wished for some one to accompany me, who might serve me as a guide, and, I 
may likewise add, who might keep up my courage. But my wishes were vain. The four sailors who 
had worked the boat which brought me to the island, and had gone with me to the edges of the crater, 
when they found I entertained thoughts of going down into it, positively refused to follow me, 
alledging the evident danger to which I should be exposed, and adducing the example of I know not 
what traveller, who, a few years ago, having descended into this deep gulph, paid for his temerity by 
never coming out again. All my entreaties, therefore, and all offers of reward were fruitless; and I 
was obliged to return to Lipari without having been able to gratify my wish. These sailors were 
natives of Lipari, nor could I find any of their countrymen who would hazard accompanying me in 
making this experiment. So great is the dread they are inspired with by this volcano, proceeding, 
piobably, fiom the fame of its ancient terrors, and also from some recent eruption, of which we shall 
hereafter have occasion to speak. 
A resolute Calabrian, who had been banished to Lipari for some crime committed at Naples, was 
the only one, who, with the permission of the Mhrchese Chiavelli, the governor of that citv, and the 
promise of a large reward, could be induced to go down with me into the crater. We descended on 
the 13th of September 1788. I have already said that the sides towards the south-east are not very 
steep, and on this side we therefore safely reached the bottom, where I proceeded to make such obser¬ 
vations as I thought of most importance. I here perceived, more distinctly than I could above, that 
the crater was a hollow cone reversed, but truncated by the bottom on which I stood. The sides, 
except in that part where we descended, are every where inaccessible. As they are covered with sand, 
they are marked with deep furrows which are the effect of rains. 
“ The bottom on which we stood, may be about somewhat more than the third of a mile in circum¬ 
ference. It is covered with sand, like the sides, and in form an oval. I soon perceived that it could 
not be walked over without danger, and that it was necessary to use the greatest circumspection in 
examining it. I have already mentioned the subterranean noise heard on approaching the crater of 
