uently shown that its fires
have not burned out, and has on several occasions given a vigorous
display of its powers.

During the fifteen hundred years succeeding the destructive event
described eruptions were of occasional occurrence, though of no great
magnitude. But throughout the long intervals when Vesuvius was at rest
it was noted that Etna and Ischia were more or less disturbed.

THE BIRTH OF MONTE NUOVO

In 1538 a startling evidence was given that there was no decline of
energy in the volcanic system of Southern Italy. This was the sudden
birth of the mountain still known as Monte Nuovo, or New Mountain,
which was thrown up in the Campania near Avernus, on the spot formerly
occupied by the Lucrine Lake.

For about two years prior to this event the district had been disturbed
by earthquakes, which on September 27 and 28, 1538, became almost
continuous. The low shore was slightly elevated, so that the sea
retreated, leaving bare a strip about two hundred feet in width. The
surface cracked, steam escaped, and at last, early on the morning of the
29th, a greater rent was made, from which were vomited furiously "smoke,
fire, stones and mud composed of ashes, making at the time of its
opening a noise like the loudest thunder."

The ejected material in less than twelve hours built the hill which has
lasted substantially in the same form to our day. It is a noteworthy
fact that since the formation of Monte Nuovo there has been no volcanic
disturbance in any part of the Neapolitan district except in Vesuvius,
which for five centuries previous had remained largely at rest.

LAVA FROM VESUVIUS

The first recognised appearance of lava in the eruptions of Vesuvius was
in the violent eruption of 1036. This was succeeded at intervals by five
other outbreaks, none of them of great energy. After 1500 the crater
became completely quiet, the whole mountain in time being grown over
with luxuriant vegetation, while by the next century the interior of the
crater became green with shrubbery, indicating that no injurious gases
were escaping.

This was sleep, not death. In 1631 the awakening came in an eruption of
terrible violence. Almost in a moment the green mantle of woodland and
shrubbery was torn away and death and destruction left where peace and
safety had seemed assured.

Seven streams of lava poured from the crater and swept rapidly down the
mountain side, leaving ruin along their paths. Resina, Granasello a