Volcanic Eruptions and Earthquakes. 167 



of pumice-stones, of the size of a pea, and some even as large 

 as a hen's egg. The earth quaked there more than here ; but 

 no houses or other edifices have been thrown down. Here 

 there are many people with catarrhs, headachs, sore throats, 

 and pectoral affections, resulting doubtless from the dust. Se- 

 veral persons are seriously unwell, and yesterday a girl of seven 

 years old died, with symptoms of an inflammatory sore throat. 

 Flocks of birds are found dead, lying on the roads and floating 

 on the sea. The showers of dust lasted till the STth." 



The following is an extract from a letter of my own, dated 

 February 7th : — " Still in total ignorance respecting the place of 

 the supposed volcanic eruptions of last month, I can only state 

 my own former mistaken conjectures respecting them and others 

 of the same class, to which they gave rise throughout Central 

 America. Near Salama, the chief place of Verapas, being on 

 the road from Guatemala to the port of Isabal, I distinctly heard, 

 on the night between the 16th and 17th of January, continued 

 noises, similar to those always produced by volcanic eruptions ; 

 however, there was something peculiar in these sounds, often re- 

 sembling the discharge of single large guns. 



" On the night of the 22d I was sleeping on the banks of the 

 Polochic, about sixteen leagues before arriving at Isabal. I 

 suppose that near eleven o'clock the apparent firing began ; the 

 guns were heard at regular intervals. Both myself and all my 

 men had been constantly accustomed, during our whole lives, to 

 hear volcanic eruptions in all parts of Central America, yet for 

 some hours we were every one without a doubt that the noise was 

 produced by artillery, and that it proceeded from the direction of 

 Isabal. I could not but conclude that an action was taking place 

 in that port. I then again reflecting on the improbability of such 

 an event, raised a conjecture that the commandant, in some extra- 

 ordinary state of inebriation, was celebrating his installation, his 

 birth-day, or some otherevent. I slumbered and pondered on, still 

 more completely puzzled by the long continuance of the firing. 

 Towards day-light certainly the noise was confused, and more 

 resembling ordinary volcanic eruptions ; yet I resumed my boat 

 journey down the river with considerable doubts on my mind, 

 and the first canoe I met coming up the river, I ordered to be 

 obliquely questioned as to the state of Isabal, and though the 



