village. This is probably also the reason why huge masses, of the towering and ruiniform crags, that form the highest summits of Monte Alburno, far above Petina, have not been brought also toppling down into the valley. As it is, however, I find, according to the information of the guard of gendarmes here stationed, that there have been some heavy falls of rock in the Vallone Petroso, and at other places along this end of the scarp of Alburno.
At Auletta it was alleged to me by these gendarmes, who arrived there within a day or two after the shock, and whose statements were confirmed, by those of some dozens of the poor inhabitants, that large and long fissures had opened in the earth around the town, but that they had since all become closed again, and they doubted that they could now be seen. I gave much scrutiny to this, and having got the corporal of the guard to come with me, he pointed out the place where he had observed one of the largest of these fissures, to the north-west of the town, amongst olive grounds, and in deep clays (at F, Fig. 132). After some time I found myself unmistakeable traces of the fissure, in a continuous sort of little narrow trench, about 12 or 15 inches wide, at the widest places on the surface, but generally not more than 8 inches wide, and of a blunt V shape in cross section, with rounded edges, and not above 8 or 9 inches deep, as in Fig. 132. The whole interior surface between the lips was free from vegetation, which grew, in many places, close np to the edges, and corresponded on opposite ones. There was no denying the evidence of a recent fissure, filled up still more recently, by the slow sinking together of the sides, and by the washing in of earth by rain. I was enabled to trace it along the
