Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857.djvu/300

246 left bank, between the towns of Contursi on the north and Postiglione on the south, right under which are the ancient and the new post-houses of La Duchessa.

Here the first walls actually prostrated by the earthquake become visible (going eastward). The old posthouse is now a roofless ruin, of walls standing two stories (without floors) or about 30 feet in height, about 250 feet long by 45 feet wide, built of rubble limestone, with ashlar quoins. None of the stones of the walls exceed about 6 ins. x 12 x 12, or 18 at most; poor masonry, but not ill suited to seismometry.

The place was damaged by the earthquake of 1783, and rendered uninhabitable by that of 1851. Its general length bears 135° E. of N. The fractures and fissures produced in December are clear and distinct from the old ones. In the sketch (Fig. 128), the portions coloured black indicate the



walls partly or wholly fallen; and the places of the principal measurable fissures are marked $$ff$$, &c. The fissures of the S. E. end when reduced, give 76° W. of N. for the wave-path, those at the opposite end 73° W. of N. the