Page:Awful phenomena of nature (2).pdf/8

 centre. Proceeding onward, and turning my to Mount Etna, I ſaw it caſt forth large volumes  ſmoke, of mountainous fire, whi hwhich [sic] entirely covered the iſland, and blotted out even the ſhores from my view. This, together with the dreadful noiſe and the ſulphureous 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 violent ſhower rain all covered over with bubbles, will have ſome idea of its agitations. My ſurpriſe was ſtill increaſed by the calmneſs and ſerenity the weather; not a breeze, not a cloud, which might be ſuppoſed to put all nature thus into motion. I therefore companion, that an earthquake was approaching; and, after ſome time, making for the  with all poſſible diligence, we landed at. But we had ſcarce arrived at the Jeſuits college that city, when our ears were ſtunned with an horrid ſound, reſembling that of an infinite number of chariots driven fiercely forward, the wheels rattling and the thongs cracking. Soon after this, a dreadful earthquake enſued; ſo that the whole track upon which we ſtood ſeemed to vibrate, as we were in the ſcale of a balance that continued waving. This motion, however, ſoon grew more violent; and being no longer able to keep my legs, I was thrown proſtrate upon the ground. After ſome time, finding that I remained unhurt amidſt the general concuſſion, I reſoved to venture for ſafety; and running as faſt as I cou'd, reached the ſhore. I did not ſearch long here, till I found the boat in which I had landed, and my companion alſo. Leaving this ſeat of deſolation, we proſecuted our voyage along the coaſt; and the next day came to Rochetta, where we landed, although the