Page:Account of several remarkable earthquakes, which happened in various quarters of the world.pdf/2



N the 24th of March, we lanched (in a small boat) from the harbour of Messina in Sicily, and arrived the same day at the promontory of Pelorus. Our destination was for the city of Euphemia in Calabria; but on account of the weather, we were obliged to continue three days at Pelorus. At length wearied with the delay, we resolved to prosecute our voyage; and although the sea seemed more than usually agitated, yet we ventured forward. The gulph of Charybdis, which we approached, seemed whirled round in such a manner as to form a vast hollow, verging to a point in the centre. Proceeding onward, and turning my eyes to Mount Ætna, I saw it cast forth large volumes of smoke, of mountainous size, which entirely covered the island, and blotted out even the shores from my view. This, together with the dreadful noise, and the sulphurous stench, which was strongly perceived, filled me with apprehensions that some more dreadful calamity was impending. The sea itself seemed to wear a very unusual appearance; those who have seen a lake in a violeutviolent [sic] shower of