Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Vol 2.djvu/64

Rh From the same spot—

by reference to Zannoni's map, from which, however, it is impossible to take off bearings of towers, nearer than to about 1°. These observations are consistent, and show that the declination in the limestone, at least, is uniform. If there be anywhere, in the inland regions shaken by this earthquake, in which a permanent elevation or depression of the land within a limited area would indicate itself, it should be in the great plain of Diano, where, from the extremely small fall of the numerous branches of the Galore, and of its irrigating channels, a very slight change of level would at once become apparent. I looked out narrowly for this on returning, but could not discover the least trace of changed level anywhere.

The enormous rate of erosion by the winter floods, and prodigious transport of material into this plain from all around, was very striking, now that for a time, my mind was free to observe, that and other geological circumstances. One of the most remarkable examples is that at the Certosa, where, by the torrent that comes down from east of Padula, boulders larger than a man's head, angular shingle, gravel, sand, and mud have been accumulated to a depth of nearly 10 feet, over a space of at least 200 acres since the monastery was built, or in about 150 years, for we cannot suppose any of it was then visible or likely to be deposited there, or they would not have chosen a site that now appears likely to be eventually overwhelmed.

VOL. II. D