cultivated; the vines and other productive fruit-trees are seen laden
with the most delicious fruits; the groves of olives, the towns and
villages, in almost endless aerial perspective, all terminated by the
distant and deep-blue sea, form a scene the most enchanting that can
be conceived. We remounted about ten o'clock, P.M., our trusty mules,
and pursued or 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 a splendid stream of
light across the azure expanse.

The cool breezes now wafted from the upper regions of the mountain
were very refreshing, and exhilarated our spirits in an extraordinary
degree. Passed Monte Rosso, which is about 600 feet above the level of
the surrounding plain, and is said to have been thrown up during the
great eruption of the year 1669, and from which issued that horrible
stream of burning lava, which, after destroying the country for the
length of fourteen miles, ran into the sea at Catania.

About six miles higher up commences the Nemerosa region, which, like
a beautiful green girdle, encircles the mountain; it abounds with
ancient hillocks, and lava of different periods, and is almost
covered with frowning woods of oak, holm, beech and pines, on the more
elevated points.

After enjoying for some time this stupendous and enchanting treat, we
kept torturing and progressing, lost in pleasing reveries caused by
the fairy scene.

Halted at the upper boundary of the forest region, to refresh our
mules, and exchange our light clothing for garments of a warmer