The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-12
From he London United Service Journal.
VISIT TO MOUNT ETNA.

VISIT TO MOUNT ETNA.
By Lieut.. G. H. P. White, Royal Navy.
On the evening Of the 18th of July, 1880
Sc: off from Catana with a party of my
qnrssma,es, to ascend Mount Etna, taking
tie necessary guides, and two sumptel
q lules to carry the provisions, &C., as moth
: ing in that way can he procured after lea
ING Nicolosi, which is small village abou,
twelve miles from Ca,ania. Elna is divid.
ed hy the Sicilians liz .!.rea several re-
gions. The hrs. Is called Pie di Montagna
the second Nemerosa, and the third Dis
coperta. The ascent, though very gradual
commences Immediately on leaving the city
of Catania, over toleraby constructed
road the country around is formed on an
ancient volcanic soil; probably the eruption
mentioned by Thucydudes, which happened
in the sixth year Of the Peloponnesian war
and the second of the lightweight Olym.
piad. Traversing the lands of Battianti
and st. Giovanni della Punta, the road is
constantly over the lava, and the country or
either side is delicious. Trecastagna, nine
miles from Catania, is seated on the accliv.
ity of a high volcanic mountain. The scene
here is beautiful and picturesque. Neal
the principal church the view is most exten.
sive. Towards the east the mountains o.
Calahria, the sea stretching from Taormn1
to Catania, bathing the sides of Etna, COW
cred with vineyards, woods and villages
northWard rises the mountain itself, sur
rounded by its progeny OF pigmy mountains
these have been thrown up in various forms
{ composed principally of cinders, and cover
ed with rich vegetation. The freshness
of the air, the beauty and picturesque stu
atoms of the houses surrounded bv lofty and
fine trees, the overteeming fertility OF III,
soil, and the LAUGHING :S:ci,is, where golden
Ceres still fingers, unwilling to quit her
favorRe abode, inteIsected by courses OIL
lava, as yet unpIoductive, make this view
one of the most beautiful and interesting
that can be ito agined. These mighty
streams of once liquid fire, extending in
many places ten miles in length by two
or three in bread tn, fill the mind with nor.
ror and astonsh, nent: that such wondrous
masses, consistlI lg of earths, stones. and
minerals. fused tlnd mixed, could be driy-
en- form in ONE wild current from The
moantaln, makefj US pause, and confounds
any attempt 10 reason on the phenomena.
And although the lava for many centuries
lays waste the superintendent land, vet.
after certain, but very long period, it is
brought by human industry into such state
as TO beco me the richest soil for cultivation ;
but when we reflect on the necessity of
some ages TO effect this Wshed-for state of
decomposition, we bewilder the mind with
out arriving at any certain conclusion.
When this process is duly effected, the
cactus opuntia, or prickly pear, is planted,
which hastens the desired event, and has
ha ~ hrauk ho lava anI ron1or
it fit for productive purposes. Five miles
from Trecastagna is Nicoosi, small vii
lage which has often suffered from the fire.
vomiting mountain. Here we supped and
baited the mules for two hours. Nico.
iosi, according to Signor Gemmelle d
Sicilan physician, long resident at Catana
is two thousand one hundred and twenty.
eight feet above the level of the sea, and its
mean temperature 64o Fair.
From hence to an almost interminabe
extent, there is a most superb view of the
surrounding country nothing can be more
varied, grand, and sublime every spot
spared by the all-deyastating lavas, is high.
ly cultivated the vines and other produc-
tive fruit trees are seen laden with the mosI
delicious fruits; the groves of olives, the
towns and villages, in almost endless eria
perspective, all terminated by the distan
and deep blue Sea, form a scene the most
enchanting that can be conceived. We
re-mounte1 about ten o'clock, P. NJ, oul
trusty mules, and pursued our journey
The evening was deliciously serene, the
stars shone with extraordinary brilliancy
and the sky appeared intensely blue, while
the galaxy, or milky way, beamed like 4
splendid stream Of light across the azure
expansc.
The cool breezes now waited from the
upper regions of the mountain were yer,
refreshing, and exhiiarated our spirits in al
extraordinary degree. Passed Monte Ros
so, which is about six hundred feet above
the level of the surrounding plain, and il
said to have been thrown up during tn,
great eruption of the year 1869, and from
which issued that horrible stream of bum
ing lsva, which after destroying the coun
try for the length of fourteen miles, ran int,
the sea at Catania.
About six miles higher up commence
the Nemerosa region, which, like beauti
full green girdle, encircles the mountain
it bounds with ancient hillocks, and lava O
different periods, and is almost ccvere
with frownng woods OF oak, holm, beech
and pines, on the more elevated points.
Nothing could be more romantic tina
the scene through which we were no,
passing either sc.ambling up some crag
gy precipice, or brushing under the spread
ing branches of the aged oaks. A trem
ulous breeze now and then rustled alon
through the dense foliage then, agail
all was still and silent as the grave, saw
distant solemn murmnr from the shad
recesses as the light air died away or tn
gathering of the mules over the tinklin
path. The stars appeared brighter tina
ever, and as if approaching nearer fror
the great diminution of refraction. Thos
igneous meteors, known by the vnlga
name OF failing stars, see med in their de
scent to touch the mountain and then Gid
off again. The country below, viewed b
this dubious light, looked like anothe
world far, far below.
After enjoying for sometime this stupen
dons and enchanting treat, we kept tortul
ing and progressing, lost in pleasing reveI
les caused by the fairy scene.
Halted Mt the upper boundary of the foi
est region, TO refresh our mules, and eS
change our light clothing for garments of
warmer texture, as the wind blew cool an
somewhat chilly; for the temperature {
this spot was about SOC, while that Of Catu