depth (fully thirty yards was visible) and extending over a great length of bedding, and yet free from any other sign of violence, or any other sensible disturbance of position. It realized forcibly to the mind the enormous power of the impulse of shock with even this moderate velocity when acting at once upon great masses, at free or outlying surfaces; and is suggestive of the much more potent effects, that must be occasionally produced in loftier ranges, subject to still more powerful impulses. Hooker’s account of the rock dislocation witnessed by him in the Himalayan shocks recurred to mind. Strictly interpreted, however, even this, is but an example of dislocation by secondary effects, of the wave, not by the wave itself.
The Lago Maorno now comes into view, a dreary pool of about a mile long by half as much wide, in the midst of a mountain basin, surrounded with deep tenacious clay soil, apparently of great fertility, but swampy and wet. Across this the mules passed with much labour, sinking nearly to the knees. The shallow valley basin, devoid of tree, house, or human being, is surrounded with low barren hills, all apparently of soft limestone, those to the eastward of the lake, coming down close and abrupt to its margin. Above and beyond the hills to the N. E., Monte Spagnoletto rises high, and powdered with snow; and far away to the S. E., I see the lofty summits of Monte Raparo, and Monte Armizzone, deeply covered with it, as well as the intervening ridges.
All attempt to cross these now, and gain access to Castel Saraceno, Chirico Raparo, Carbone, Calvera, Latronico, Episcopio, and many other towns lying deep in the mountain recesses, far to the S. E. and east, I found
