Volcanic Eruptions mid Earthquakes. 169 



ashes which subsequently fell, convinced the observers in Ja- 

 maica that a volcano was the origin. 



" At Santamartha, in New Grenada, it was supposed to be 

 the firing of the same vessel in distress. The noise was heard 

 as far as Bogota. Captain M'Quay, who commanded the Fly, 

 was in the harbour of Carthagena, and accompanied the gover- 

 nor of that part in a reconnoissance, both fearing that the firing 

 proceeded from some vessel in want of succour. Finally, every- 

 where the noise was supposed to proceed from the immediate vi- 

 cinity, tviiobx 



" In addition to the above, an official communication from the 

 city of Nacaome, describes the pyramidal cloud on the summit 

 of Cosiguina at half-past six a. m. It seemed of many hues and 

 great density, and at some height separated into two parts, one 

 spreading over the summit of Conchagua, and the other towards 

 the peak of Perspire. Here the ground and buildings were co- 

 vered to the depth of seven or eight inches with fine dust and 

 coarse sand, in which were found birds of all kinds suffocated. 

 Some quadrupeds from the forest sought shelter in the town, 

 -and the rivers, filled with the volcanic substances, cast upon their 

 shores an innumerable quantity of fishes in a torpid state, and 

 some dead. 



- i ** A letter from Omoa speaks of the earthquakes and of seve- 

 ral eruptions, by which were wholly submerged three large towns 

 and several petty villages, with part of the ports of St Miguel 

 and St Salvadore. Five of the eruptions had continued for 

 eight days, and scattered rocks, stones, and cinders in all direc- 

 tions, to the distance of sixty leagues. One of them burst forth 

 within twenty miles of Truxillo, and another occurred near 

 Bahze."* ^ U 



The volcanic agency seems to have operated on an extensive 

 scale, and to have had vent in a great number of places, and 

 the country from Bogota about 4^° N., li" 14}' W., through- 

 out the whole isthmus, certainly as far north as Balize (more 

 than one thousand miles) was convulsed or affected by the con- 

 cussion. 



• The terror of the inhabitants at Alencho (anticipating the approach of 

 the last day) was so great, that 300 of those who lived in a state of concu- 

 . binage were married at once. 



