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Eruptions of the Volcano of the Cosiguiiia, in Nicaragua, Com- 

 municated by Colonel Juan Galindo.* 



Kio MoPAN, Apnl 13. 1835. 

 . Sin, — One of the most stupendous convulsions of the globe 

 ever known in this hemisphere took place last January, on the 

 eruption of the volcano of Cosiguina. This volcano is situated 

 in Nicaragua, one of the states of central America, and stands 

 near the eastern promontory of the bay of Conchagua, separating 

 the waters of the gulf from the Pacific. I can give no more 

 faithful or vivid description of its appearance and effects, in the 

 immediate vicinity, than the following translation of a report, 

 dated January 29, from the Commandant of Union, a sea-port 

 situated on the western shore of the bay of Conchagua, and the 

 nearest place of any consequence to the volcano. 



" On the 20th inst., day having dawned with usual serenity, 

 at eight o'*clock, towards the S. E., a dense cloud was perceiv- 

 ed of a pyramidal figure, preceded by a rumbling noise, and it 

 continued rising until it covered the sun, at which elevation, 

 about ten, it separated to the north and south, accompanied by 

 thunder and lightning. The cloud finally covered the whole 

 firmament about eleven, and enveloped every thing in the great- 

 est darkness, so that the nearest objects were imperceptible. The 

 melancholy howling of beasts, the flocks of birds of all spe- 

 cies that came to seek, as it were, an asylum amongst men, the 

 terror which assailed the latter, the cries of women and children, 

 and the uncertainty of the issue of so rare a phenomenon— 

 every thing combined to overcome the stoutest soul, and fill it 

 with apprehension ; and the more so when, at four p. m., the 

 earth began to quake, and continued in a perpetual undula- 

 tion, which gradually increased. This was followed by a shower 

 of f)hosphoric sand, which lasted till eight o'clock r. m. on the 

 same day, when there began falling a heavy and fine powder 

 like flour. The thunder and licrhtninfj continued the whole 

 night and the following day (the 21st) ; and at eight minutes 

 past three o'clock r.M. there was a long and violent eartb- 



■ Silliman's Journal, July 1835. 



