Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857 Vol 2.djvu/65

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MAGNETIC DECLINATIONS.


From one of the summits between Atena and Campostrina I was enabled to get a view of Brienza with the telescope, and regretted much that time would not enable me to visit it. The place had obviously suffered terribly, apparently quite as much as Atena, and enormous avalanches were visible of white rubbish from fallen houses, that had shot down the sides of the abrupt rock on which it stands. The Castello on top, had great masses fractured and prostrated from its thick walls. The Photog. No. 289, (see p. 217,) gives an excellent notion of its appearance; I could not obtain the wave-path, &c.

I started from Auletta (21st February) for Vietri di Potenza, and to the far east north eastward. The road rises gradually for some miles, upon the north slope of a small valley running N.E., with Salvitello at its head, limestones at both sides, clays, and probably marl beds at the bottom. We surmount the ridge, separating the great valley of our old acquaintance the Tanagro from that of the Bianco, and get out upon the Piano Cerzeta, at the church of St. Giacomo, almost in ruins. At this highest point the barometer read, 28·50 inches, thermo. 47° Fahr., at 9·45 Naples mean time (21st February); the reduced level is, therefore, 1409·5 feet above the sea, and 647·6 feet above the Locanda of Auletta.

From this station I took several bearings for magnetic declination.

W. Declination.
Buccino bears 16° W. of north by compass 14°
Castelluccio . . 80° W. of north . . 13°
Auletta . . due S. . . 15°
Caggiano . . 115° E. of north . . East 12°