Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Vol 2.djvu/259

198 from Naples to Melfi by the Salerno and Valva road, almost two entire days are occupied alone in crossing the Apennines; and after a long and painful ascent the traveller at last reaches an eminence from whence his eye might range over the vast plains of Puglia, where the view is only broken, at the outskirts of the Apennines, by a solitary and majestic mountain; testifying by its configuration that its origin was very different from that of the mountains he has been contemplating for two days. This mountain, with its numerous ridges and deep valleys, with beautiful and fertile declivities, is Monte Vulture, at the base of which, built over the volcanic formation, stands first of all Atella, rich in historical associations, but now poor in inhabitants, owing to its unhealthy atmosphere; next Rionero, a new and populous city, probably owing, in part, its prosperity to the emigrations from Atella. Along the east side of the mountain the next town is Barieli, a large borough of Albanian origin; then Rapolla, an ancient episcopal seat, dating from Norman times; and, lastly, a little to the north of Vulture, Melfi appears, built on a gentle eminence formed of loose and incoherent volcanic tufa, covered with incompact and almost scoriaceous lava. To the right of the beaten track, the last of the Apennines appear to change into low hills, some of which are formed of fucoid clays, and on the side or summit of these hills stand Ginestra and Ripicandida, and further on Venosa, Lavello, Maschito. Beyond, to the north, runs the Ofanto, and from thence Puglia is a level plain, presenting a lovely landscape from many points; but the best view is obtained from the highest ridge of Vulture, whence the prospect extends to the Adriatic. The chain of the Apennines stretches on from the west side of Monte Vulture, presenting the same low hills, on which Monteverde, Carbonara, Candela, &c., are situated. The rest of the region in which the earthquake was more or less felt is marked on the map.

On the 14th of August, 1851, the ground being dried up by long want of rain, the weather sultry, the sun shone out palely, as if covered with fog. Towards noon the sky was cloudless, and the atmosphere clearer, but at twenty minutes past two P.M. a sudden shock of earthquake occurred: a gust of wind was observed by those in the country, and some also saw a light vapour or cloud