Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Vol 2.djvu/60

Rh already visible, distant 2 miles, perched on the conoidal summits of two low masses of limestone, (Fig. 286, Sketch Coll. Roy. Soc), with the lofty Pietra Maura, covered with snow behind it, from which the Agri derives its source.

Paterno, a rather large and important town, had suffered severely, as the Photogs. Nos. 284 and 285 (Coll. Roy. Soc.) of the cathedral from the S.E., which shows the scalloping off, of the circular tower walls, as referred to in Part I., and of the archbishop's palace, may indicate. My object, however, was not to examine its buildings, but to discover the heavy falls of rock alleged to have taken place here; these I found were, to a great extent, fabulous. Some dislodgements of loose stones had occurred, from the limestone cliffs near the place, and of these my Photographer obtained the view (Photog. No. 287, Coll. Roy. Soc.), which is chiefly interesting, as giving an excellent idea of the petrological character of the soft limestone. I directed my attention also, to a sulphurous spring issuing not far from the town, and of which I had been told at Naples, that the volume of water had surprisingly increased after the shock, (Photog. No. 288, Coll. Roy. Soc.). As the result of my inquiries, this did not seem to be founded on fact; it had become turbid for some time, like the springs at Padula and elsewhere.

On returning, we topped the pass between the Serra Mandrano and Monte St. Elia, and gained a glorious sunset view, over the plain of Diano, as we descended.

I stopped on commencing the descent, at a moment when the sun's disc became visible, to take an observation for declination, but before the instruments were adjusted it had become again cloudy and barely visible. I record the