Eustace, John Cretwode: A classical tour through Italy An. MDCCCII (Vol. 3): 3. ed., rev. and enl (London: J. Mawman, 1815)

Ch. I.

THROUGH ITALY.

19

is evidently of volcanic origin, and formed of
lava, tufo, and pumice stone. No eruption how-
ever has taken place since the year 1302, when
the convulsions that shook the mountain were so
violent, and the rivers of burning fluid that
poured down its sides so extensive and so de-
structive, that the towns and villages were all
levelled with the ground or consumed, most of the
inhabitants were destroyed, and the few survivors
were driven in terror from their homes. Since
this tremendous explosion the island has enjoyed
a state of tranquillity, and all apprehension of
similar visitations seems removed. The subter-
raneous fire however is not extinguished, and the
number of hot fountains that spring up in different
places still attest its existence and activity.
The surface of Ischia is very beautifully varied
by vineyards,»· gardens, groves of chestnut, and
villages. It is intersected by numberless steep
and narrow dells, which are shaded by forest
trees intermingled with aloes, myrtles, and other
odoriferous shrubs, that shoot out of the fissures of
the rocks, and wave over their summits. The
soil is fertile, and peculiarly favorable to vines ;
hence the wine of Ischia is plentiful, and held in
considerable estimation ; it is lodged in caverns
worked out of the rocks, and formed into very ca-
pacious and cool cellars; a method of keeping
' c2