RES ee ee 
xliv 
The Introduttion, 
them through the Plains, and likewife that fometimes Rivers fuffer 
very great increafe and inundations in the Plains, whereas no Rain 
fell in the places where fuch inundations appear. | 
Earthquakes as they are too frequent in £ii/paniola, where they 
have formerly thrown down the Town of Santa Domingo, fo they 
are too common here alfo; The Inhabicants expect one every year, 
and fome of them think they follow their great Rains. One happen’d 
on Sunday the 19. of February, 1688, about eight in the morning, 
1 found ina Chamber one Story high the Cabinets, and feveral other 
Moveables on the Floor to reel, as if People had rafed the Founda- 
tions of the Houfe. I look’d out at a Window ta fee what was the 
matter, and found that the Pigeons and other Birds in an Aviary 
hard by were on the Wing inas great Aftonifhment, keeping them- 
felves in that Pofture, not knowing where to alight. Wherefore 
concluding what ic was, and the Danger in being ia an high Brick- 
Houfe, | made what haft I could to get out; bue before I had 
pafled through two Rooms, and got to the Staiz-cafe, it was 
over. It came by Shocks; there were three of them, with a litele 
Paule between. | It lafted about a Minute of Time in all; and there 
was a {mall Noife accompanied it. A pair of Stairs. higher it threw 
down moft Things off the Shelves, and had much more vifible Ef- 
fects thanbelow. This was generally fele all over the Ifland at the 
{ame time, or near ic; fome Houfes therein being crack’d and very 
near ruin’d, others being uncovered of their Tiles, very few efcaped 
fome Injury, and the People in chem were generally in a great Con- 
fternation, feeing them dance. ‘The Ships in the Harbour at Port- 
Royal felc it ; and one who was Eaftward of the Ifland coming thi- 
ther from Europe, met with, as he faid, at the fametime, an Hurri- 
cane, One riding on Horfeback was not fenfiblecf ic. A Gentle- 
man being at that time abroad in his Plantation, told me, he faw 
the Ground rife like the Sea. in a Wave, as the Earthquake pafled 
along, andthat it went Northward ; forthat fome {mall time after 
he had felc it,he faw by the Motion of the Tops of the Trees on Hills 
3, 
by 
