414 STRABO. CASAUB. 273. tory of the Leontini, which was possessed by the people of Naxos settled in Sicily, suffered much, for they always shared in the misfortunes of Syracuse, but not always in its prosperity.^ 8. Near to Centoripa is the town we have a little before mentioned, JEtna, which serves as a place for travellers about to ascend Mount JEtna, to halt and refresh themselves for the expedition. For here commences the region in which is situ- ated the summit of the mountain. The districts above are barren and covered with ashes, which are surmounted by the snows in winter : all below it however is filled with woods and planta- tions of all kinds. It seems that the summits of the mountain take many changes by the ravages of the fire, which sometimes is brought together into one crater, and at another is divided ; at one time again it heaves forth streams of lava, and at an- other flames and thick smoke : at other times again ejecting red-hot masses of fire-stone. In such violent commotions as these the subterraneous passages must necessarily undergo a corresponding change, and at times the orifices on the surface around be considerably increased. Some who have very re- cently ascended the mountain, reported 1 to us, that they found at the top an even plain of about 20 stadia in circumference, enclosed by an overhanging ridge of ashes about the height of a wall, so that those who are desirous of proceeding further are obliged to leap down into the plain. They noticed in the midst of it a mound ; it was ash-coloured, as was likewise the plain in appearance. Above the mound a column of cloud reared itself in a perpendicular line to the height of 200 stadia, and remained motionless (there being no air stirring at the time) ; it resembled smoke. Two of the party resolutely at- tempted to proceed further across this plain, but, finding the sand very hot and sinking very deep in it, they turned back, without however being able to make any more particular ob- servations, as to what we have described, than those who be- held from a greater distance. They were, however, of opinion, from the observations they were able to make, that much ex- aggeration pervades the accounts we have of the volcano, and especially the tale about Empedocles, that he leaped into the from " The " to " prosperity," has been transferred from its proper place. See note 12 , page 412. 1 The French translators infer from this passage that Strabo had never visited Sicily.
