Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Vol 2.djvu/40

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CHAPTER XXV.

MONTEMURRO TO TRAMUTOLA.


On leaving, I rode along the north brow of the ravines for some way, and then struck over the southern slopes of the Piano Valloni, to Viggiano—a mediæval town, about five miles north west.

Viggiano is perched on the very summit of a mass of limestone, rising abruptly from beneath the deep clays of the valley of the Agri. (See Geological Section, Diagram No. 241, Fig. 2). Its lofty, and, in places almost mural colline, is well buttressed to the north and round to the east, by other higher hills, of which Monte Calvario is the most conspicuous, also of limestone, showing no clear bedding to telescope; far beyond this, the lofty peaks of Monte Capodallo are visible, capped with snow. (See Sketch No. 270, and Photog. No. 271.) It is free from contact of other hills, upon the N.W. and west, and to this, no doubt, owes its comparative escape from destruction. It has, however, suffered very sadly, and very many of its population, almost all of whom are hereditary travelling musicians, have been killed and wounded. The wave-path, from fissures here, in houses below the town, gave 136° E. of north towards the south. It was too near to towns already examined, to make