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(4) reach the bottom. Burring rocks, ſixty palms in length, were thrown to the diſtance of a mile, and leſſer ſtones were carried three miles. After the moſt violent ſtruggles, and a ſhaking of the whole iſland, an immenſe torrent of lava guſhed from the rent, and ſprung up into the air to the height of fixty palms, whence it poured down the mountain and overwhelmed every object in its way in on promiſcuous ruin.

This deſtructive torrent, which burſt from the ſide of Ætna at a place called Ricini, ruſhed impetuouſly againſt the beautiful mountain of Montpelieri, and pierced into the ground to a conſiderable depth; then dividing and ſurrounding the mountain; it united again on the ſouth ſide, and poured deſolation upon the adjacent country. The progreſs of the torrent was at firſt at the rate of ſeven miles a day, but it afterwards took four days to travel ſixteen; wherever it directed its courſe, the whole appearance of nature was changed, ſeven hills were formed in place which were former valleys, and a large lake was ſo entirely filled by the melted maſs, as not to leave a veſtige remaining. In its courſe it deſcended upon a vineyard, belonging to a convent of Jeſuits, which was formed upon an ancient and probably a very thin layer lava, with a number of caverns and crevices under it. The liquid maſs entering into theſe excavations ſoon filled them up, and by degrees' bore up the vineyard, which is a ſhort time, to the great aſtoniſhment of the ſpectators, began to move away and was carried by the torrent to a conſiderable diſtance. In 1770 ſome remains of this vineyard were still to be ſeen, but the greater part of it was entirely deſtroyed.

In vain did the terrified inhabitants of Catan rečur for protection to the miraculous veil, or