Page:Burning mountains.pdf/8

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Refina and Torre de Greco. Sir William Hamilton could count fifteen of them, but believes there were others obſcured by the ſmoke. It ſeems probable, that all thoſe fountains of fire, from there being in ſuch an exact line, proceeded from a(illegible text) and the ſame long fiſſure down the flanks of the mountain, and that the lava and other volcanic matter forced its way out of the wideſt parts of the crack, and formed there the little mountains and craters that will be deſcribed in their proper place. It is impoſſible that any deſcription can give an idea of the blazing ſcene, or of the horrid noiſes that attended this great operation of nature. It was mixture of the loudeſt thunder, with inceſſant reports, like thoſe from a numerous heavy artillely accompanied by a continued hollow murmer, like that of the roaring of the ocean during a violent ſtorm; and, added to theſe was another blowing noiſe, like that of the aſcending of a large flight of ſky-rockets, or that which is produced by the action of the enormous bellows on the furnace of Carron iron foundery in Scotland. The frequent falling of the huge ſtones and ſcoriae, which were thrown up to an incredible height from ſome of the new mouths, one of which having been ſince measured by the Abbe Tata was ten feet high, and thirty five in circumference, contributed undoubtedly to the concuſſion of the earth and air, which kept all the houſes at Naples for ſeveral hours in conſtant tremor, every door and window ſhaking and rattling inceſſantly, and the bells ringing. This was an awful moment! The ſky, from a bright full moon and ſtarlight, began to be obſcured; the moon had preſently the appearance of being in eclipſe, and ſoon after was totally lost in obſcurity. The murmer of the prayers and lamentations of numerous populace forming various pro(illegible text)eſſion