380 On Vie Earthquake at Colombia, 



I noticed it not only upon this occasion, but also in the 

 earthquake of June 17th, 1826, in this city*. 



The earthquake took a direction from S. E. to N. W., in 

 which it could plainly be traced by the havoc which it made. 

 Its effects on the city were partial in the above direction, but 

 every part was convulsed. 



The confusion and affliction which such a calamity oc- 

 casions, particularly in a catholic country, can neither be 

 imagined nor described. I was sitting reading in a small house 

 of one story above the ground-floor, when the trembling com- 

 menced ; the table on which my book lay, first shook, and 

 almost at the same instant, the chair on which I sat ; I im- 

 mediately got on my legs, but found much difliculty in sustain- 

 ing myself without holding by some fixture; the house all this 

 time rocking to and fro as in a hurricane, but not a breath of 

 air stirred. After passing ten or more seconds in this way, I 

 collected my reason sufficiently to run down the steps into the 

 street ; all this time the earth was in motion. When I arrived 

 at the portal of the door, I found it impossible to stand without 

 liolding very tight by the doorway, and many persons fell on 

 their faces. During these moments, part of the house adjoining 

 mine fell with a terrible crash, and the street was filled with 

 a cloud of dust, out of which emerged a man distorted with 

 horror^ but who had almost miraculously escaped immolation, 

 without any other hurt than what his fright had occasioned. 

 After continuing a minute or more, the trembling ceased, and 

 nothing could now be heard but the cries of the people ; with 

 that exception all was still and silent, and the stars appeared 

 with all their brilliancy, as if smiling at this scene of human 

 distress. Some persons asserted, that there were two distinct 

 shocks, but I must confess I felt the earth in motion during 

 the whole period of a minute or more ; and being situated over 

 the direction which the earthquake took, was, therefore, better 

 able to judge of this, than others who were more distant, and 

 particularly as I retained my presence of mind. Fortunately 



* If I may be allowed to offer a conjecture on the cause of this singular white veil, 

 or cloud, I can only attribute it to the vapour of water which escapes from the earth 

 from the heated mass below, and which is condensed on rising into the cold air, and 

 thus rendered visible. Bogota, according to my measurement, which corresponds 

 very nearly with that of Baron Humboldt, is 9600 feet above the level of the sea^ 

 and is distant at least one hundred miles from any known volcano. 



