11
a thick black smoke rose from the mouth of
the crater, which, dilating prodigiously, cover-
ed the whole volcano. In the evening loud
explosions were heard; and at Naples a co-
lumn of fire was seen to rise from the aperture,
carrying up stones in a state of complete ig-
nition, which fell again into the crater. The
noise by which these igneous explosions were
accompanied resembled the roaring of the
most dreadful tempest, and the whistling of
the most furious winds; while the celerity
with which the substances were ejected was
such, that the first emission had not termi-
nated when it was succeeded by a second.--
Small monticules were at this time formed of
a fluid matter, resembling a vitreous paste of
red colour, which flowed from the month of
the crater; and these became more consider-
able in proportion as the matter accumulat-
ed.
In this state the eruption continued for
several days, the fire being equally intense,
with frequent and dreadful noises. On the
28th, and these fearful symptoms, another
aperture, ejecting fire and stones situated
behind the crater, was seen from Naples --
The burning mass of lava which escaped from
the crater on the following day was dis-
tinguished from Torre del Greco, having the
appearance of a vitreous fluid, and advancing
towards the base of the mountain between
