DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6094#0228
SICILY AND MALTA. 205
within the circle of virion, to interrupt
it ; so that the sight is every where lost
in the immensity: and I am persuaded
it is only from the imperfection of our
organs, that the coasts of Asrica, and even
of Greece, are not discovered, as they are
certainly above the horizon. The circum-
ference of the visible horizon on the top
of iEtna cannot be less than 2000 miles:
At Malta, which is near 200 miles distant,
they perceive all the eruptions from the
second region; and that issand is often
discovered from about one half the ele-
vation of the mountain ; so that at the
whole elevation, the horizon must extend
to near double that distance, or 400 miles,
which makes 800 for the diameter of the
circle, and 2400 for the circumference.
But this is by much too vast for our senses,
not intended to grasp so boundless a scene.
I find, indeed, by some of the Sicilian au-
thors, particularly Masia, that the African
coast, as well as that of Naples, with
many
within the circle of virion, to interrupt
it ; so that the sight is every where lost
in the immensity: and I am persuaded
it is only from the imperfection of our
organs, that the coasts of Asrica, and even
of Greece, are not discovered, as they are
certainly above the horizon. The circum-
ference of the visible horizon on the top
of iEtna cannot be less than 2000 miles:
At Malta, which is near 200 miles distant,
they perceive all the eruptions from the
second region; and that issand is often
discovered from about one half the ele-
vation of the mountain ; so that at the
whole elevation, the horizon must extend
to near double that distance, or 400 miles,
which makes 800 for the diameter of the
circle, and 2400 for the circumference.
But this is by much too vast for our senses,
not intended to grasp so boundless a scene.
I find, indeed, by some of the Sicilian au-
thors, particularly Masia, that the African
coast, as well as that of Naples, with
many