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

24

CLASSICAL TOUR

Ch. I.

in wide black lines over the surface. This region
may be said to terminate at the Atrio dei Cavalli
so called, because the traveller is obliged to dis-
mount and leave his horse there till his return, as
the summit of the mountain must be ascended on
foot. This part has the shape of a truncated
<;one; it is formed almost entirely of ashes, and
is extremely difficult of ascent, as it yields under
the pressure of the foot, so that one step out of
three may be considered as lost. The guides
however afford every assistance, and by means of
a leathern strap thrown over their shoulders ease
the traveller not a little in his exertions. It is
advisable to proceed slowly and rest at intervals,
as the fatigue otherwise is sufficient to try even
strong and youthful constitutions.
When we reached the summit we found our-
selves on a narrow ledge of burnt earth or cinders,
with the crater of the volcano open beneath us.
This orifice in its present form, for it varies at
almost every eruption, is about a mile and a half
in circumference, and may be about three hun-
dred and fifty feet in depth; its eastern border is
considerably higher than the western. Its sides
are formed of ashes and cinders, with some rocks
and masses of lava intermingled; they shelve in a
steep declivity, enclosing at the bottom a flat
space of about three quarters of a mile in circum-