THE Flaming ISLANDS: OR, A full Description and Account of the strange and terrible Fire, lately broke out of the Ground, in the Island Fyal, in Threescore and Ten several places. As also in some other Neighbouring Islands.
AMongst all those Stupendious effects wherewith Mysterious Nature Exercises and keeps in awe her trembling Children, few there are that have more, both astonished Vulgar Heads, and bafled the Studies of more knowing and Phylosiphical [Page 4] Enquirers, than those Occult and Subterranean Fires which have been observed always to Rage in some particular parts of our Earthly Globe, and at certain Periods of time to break forth, to the Derastation of the Adjacent Countries, Mount Aetna, and Vesurius, are Famous on this account in the Monuments of Antiquity; Whose wondrous qualities, whilst Pliny (that Great Secretary of Nature) rashly Attempted by too near approaches to discover, he is reported to be slain by one of those vast burning Stones which it almost continually vomits up into the Air, falling thus, a Sacrifice to his overbusie Curiosity.
The best account Phylosiphy has yet afforded us, of these strange Fires, is, That the Mountains, or places wherein they happen, are within Repleated with Brimstone, and the Ground or Soil there, consists of vast quantities of Bituminous, or the like Combustible matter, which taking Fire, either from its own Innate heat, or the Penetrating Rays of the Sun, the Winds which through imperceptible Crannies whilstle up and down in those underground Vaults (producing thereby sometimes those Erruptions we call Earthquakes) serve as Bellows to Augment its Rage: And having so much ready disposed Fewel to Prey upon, it ceases not burning, but in process of time, eating up towards the Surface; the Flames which had so long lurk'd in close Carernes below, break out, to the infinite amazement of Mortals, who had not the least apprehension of such an hidden, but most terrible and devouring Enemy. A dreadful and deplorable example of which kind very lately hapned, is, The mournful Subject of the present Narrative, which be pleased to accept according to the [Page 5] most certain Intelligence from the place that was the unhappy Scene of this Tragedy of Horror, as follows.
On the Coast of the East-Indies (whose Spices and precious Stones may justly Vye Dignity with the Western Mines) not far from that Eminent and well-known Port of Goa, there lies a Cluster of Islands, some of which being first discovered by the Portagues, do still pay obedience to that Crown. Amongst these, that called Fyael, for the pleasantness of the Air, commodiousness of its Situation, richness of the Commodities it produced, and number of Inhabitants, did far excel the rest, whence we may easily Collect that the People who enjoyed all these Signal advantages lived in great Ease, Plenty, Magnificence, and Security: But alas! how soon can the Aldisposing Arm of Providence blast our Joys, and by unexpected means turn our most flourishing condition into a state of misery and dessolation.
On a sudden in the beginning of this laft Spring, as they were in the hight of their Jollity, a Deluge of Fire, that by the means before hinted at, had long lain hid and confined, in the Bowels of the Earth, broke out with unimaginable Horror, and Impetuous Rage, in no less then Seventy distinct places of their Island, the Earth opening with horrible Roarings, and several vast Hyatusses, or Hideous Gapings; one of which hapning in the chief Town (being a place of excellent Structure, and Populous) all the Buildings, and most part of the Inhabitants were instantly swallowed in that dreadful Abysse of Flames.
In other places whole Flocks and Herds were Absorpt, and descended as Burnt-Offerings in Hecatombs, Diis Manibus.
The Flames which had thus broke Prison from Earth, mounted with such fury and violence towards Heaven, as if they would have joyned with the Elemental Fire, which the Aristotelians talk of, and perfected the Univeral Conflagration.
Vast Stones red hot were (as it were) shot through the Air, which falling some miles distant, kil'd great numbers, and destroyed such of the Houses as the Earthquakes at the time of the first Erruptions had left standing.
In Fine, There was nothing but Horror, Astonishment, Destruction, and Confusion: The Air was all filled with smoak, burning Cinders, and Ashes which fell like a Fiery Rain, and utterly wasted the whole Country.
All the [...]ents seemed to War against, and Cons [...]ire for the punishment of the wretched Inhabi [...]ants, whose Terr [...]rs and Destractions were such as are not possible to be fully, either described, or imagined.
An Universal Consternation had seized them, and without any regard to their Friends or Relations: Women leaving their little Babes, and Men abandoning their aged helpless parents, every one endeavoured to shift for himself, and get away by what means they could, from that dismal place which threatned them every moment, with nothing out the most dreadful kind of Death and Destruction.
The Neighbouring Islands, as St. Michaels, St. Georges, St. Maries, and the Tarceras, were the Zoars, to which, winged with fear, they Flew for refuge; though the last can promise them but little security, since the Fire is since broke out there too, though as yet, not with that fury and violence as in Fyal.
Some of our Pious Ancestors (rich in Faith, though barren in Phylosophy) conceited those Vulcano's, or burning Mountains of Brimstone: As, Aetna, Vesurius, and the like, to be the Local place of Hell, and Receptacles of Souls Doom'd to everlasting torments. The truth is, they seem'd to have a very neer resemblance to that Litteral description of Hell delivered to us, in the Sacred Oracles. And though some wild Atheistical Gallants (that scarce dread any other Hell, but an empty pocket, or the frowns of a Mistris) may Suggest, that Fire can have no effect of torment on a Soul, and that weeping and gnashing of teeth are not easily supposed punishments consistent, and therefore that all those things are Allegorically to be understood, yet let them be assured the Fire of Hell is either Elemental Fire, or something worse; for which we want a Name that can better express its inconceiveable, as well as endless tortures.
Wherefore let all Pious Readers, by this terrible example of God's Power, and strange burning in the Bowels of the Earth, be admonished to mind that Universal Conflagration, when the whole Globe of Earth shall confess it's Ashes, and be destroyed by Fire; and to prepare for that amazing Judgement which shall then immediately succeed, (the thoughts whereof alone, as a Noble Author hath it, are able to keep us honest in the dark, and) which shall Impartially render to every Man according to his Works.