66 Questions Jbr Solution relating to Meteorologt/, Si-c. 



point, would certainly throw some light on the question. We 

 recommend this object to the commander of the expedition, 

 whether he may be inclined to perform the task during the voy- 

 age, or be contented with collecting materials for it. 



To adopt popular opinions too hastily, is to run the risk of 

 introducing into science, to its great injury, a multitude of con- 

 fused notions, founded on phenomena imperfectly seen and in- 

 accurately examined ; but to reject these opinions without exa- 

 mination, is often the occasion of losing an opportunity of ma- 

 king some important discovery. From this consideration I do 

 not hesitate to entreat our young countrymen to inquire, during 

 their stay on the western coast of America, whether the pheno- 

 mena which are said to have attended the earthquake which de- 

 stroyed Arica and Saena on the morning of the 18th September 

 1833, have been observed in any other places. The following 

 is an account of them by Mr John Reid, an English traveller. 



" The continual baying of dogs, and braying of asses, an- 

 nounced the approach of danger. On the preceding day, the 

 atmosphere had been of an alarming stillness. With the excep- 

 tion of a few rare gusts, coming sometimes from one side and 

 sometimes from another, and which were felt quite as well in 

 the interior of an apartment as on the outside ; it might be 

 said that during the whole of the day of September 18th, the 

 immobility of the air at Saena was complete. 



" The shocks had left a great number of empty bottles in the 

 places which they occupied, but their corks were found scattered 

 about in all directions. 



" None of these empty bottles had been even overturned ; 

 others that were filled, on the contrary, were thrown out of their 

 places and broken. 



" The varnish which covered a new table belonging to Mr 

 Reid, became so fluid, that the day after the earthquake the ma- 

 hogany appeared surrounded with hanging glue. 



" Some large jars of earthenware were sunk in the earth and 

 contained water ; and although the surface of the water was 

 three or four feet below the mouth of the jars, yet a great part 

 of the water was thrown out on the surrounding soil. 



" At^ Saena it was remarked, that after a shock, whether 

 slight or severe, all the dogs of the town went to quench their 

 thirst at the first pool of water they could fall in with." 



