1826.] in the Islands of Japan, 447 



vated the horrors of the catastrophe. Prodigious rocks rolling; 

 from the mountain overthrew and crushed every thing that hap- 

 pened to be in their way. 



A tremendous noise, resembling loud and repeated discharges 

 of artillery, was heard under ground and in the air : at length, 

 when the danger was supposed to be over, a horrible eruption of 

 Mount Miyiyama took place : the greatest part of it was 

 exploded into the air, fell into the sea, and by its fall raised the 

 water to such a height as to inundate both the town and country. 

 At the same time, an enormous quantity of water issuing from 

 the clefts of the mountain, met the sea-water in the streets^ and 

 produced whirlpools, which, in some places, washed away the 

 ver^ foundations of the houses, so as to leave not a vestige of 

 habitations. The castle alone remained uninjured, because the 

 water could not penetrate its strong massive walls : several 

 houses near it were so completely destroyed, that not one stone 

 was left upon one another. Men and beasts were drowned by 

 the flood* Some were found suspended from trees, others 

 standing upright, others kneeling, and others again on their 

 heads in the mud; and the streets were strewed with dead 

 bodies. Out of all those who fled for the purpose of seeking 

 refuge in the castle, a very small number effected their escape, 

 and all these had received more or less injury. The cries of 

 those who were still alive beneath the ruins pierced the heart> 

 and yet no assistance could be rendered them. 



At length recourse was had to the expedient of sending fifty 

 criminals from the castle to remove the rubbish, for the purpose 

 of extricating such of the miserable wretches as were still living, 

 and of interring the dead. Of those who were taken out of the 

 ruins, some had their legs, others their arms, or other members, 

 fractured. The tubs which are used in Japan, instead of coffins, 

 for burying the dead, were uncovered in the cemeteries, or 

 broken, the large stones laid over them having been carried away 

 by the torrent. Thus the whole country was all at once trans- 

 formed into a desert; but the province of Figo, opposite to 

 Simabara, is reduced to a still more deplorable state. Its form 

 seems to have been entirely changed ; not the least trace of 

 what it was formerly is now to be discovered. A great number 

 of vessels which lay at anchor in the neighbourhood went to 

 the bottom ; and an incredible number of carcases of men and 

 beasts and other wrecks, were brought down by the current, so 

 that the ships could scarcely force a passage through them. 

 The wretchedness that every where prevails is inexpressible, and 

 fills the spectator with horror. The number of those who are 

 known to have perished exceeds 53,000 ; and it is impossible to 

 describe the consternation produced by this catastrophe. 



P. 109—112. 



