86 REPORT—1850. 
from the sun are not entirely removed from the air, but just decreasing, a calm 
takes place, the wind returning again into the earth, which causes the earthquake 
before the eclipse. Tor winds also often happen before eclipses, blowing in the 
beginning of the night before those which take place in the middle of the night, and 
in the middle of the night before those which happen in the morning. This occurs 
because the heat diminishes which is derived {rom the moon, when now the path 
(φορὰ) is near in which the eclipse takes place. That therefore being removed which 
detained the air and rendered it calm, the wind is again put in motion, and blows 
previous to the eclipse. But when a violent earthquake has taken place, the shocks do 
not cease suddenly and at once, but in the first instance they often continue for forty 
days, and after that are in force for one or even two years in the same place. But the 
cause of the greatness of the earthquake is the great amount of wind and the con- 
figuration of the places through which it flows, for where it is repelled and cannot 
easily pass through, there it produces the greatest shocks, being retained in narrow 
places like water, not being able to pass through. Wherefore, as in the body throb- 
bing pulsations do not cease suddenly and immediately, but gradually, as the malady 
spends itself, so also it is with the beginning of the exhalation and the original im- 
petus of the wind; for it is manifest that the material is not at once consumed from 
which the wind is produced which we call an earthquake. 
“Until therefore the remains of this be consumed, the shocks must necessarily 
continue, but continually becoming less and less until the exhalation is too slight to 
produce any perceptible shock. 
«« But the wind also produces those noises under ground which are heard before 
earthquakes. And in some places subterranean noises are heard unaccompanied by 
earthquakes, for as the air by being struck produces every kind of sound, so it does 
also when it is itself the striking agent, for it makes no difference, since when it strikes 
against any object, it is itself stricken. But the sound comes before the shock be- 
cause it consists of more subtle parts, and can therefore penetrate through every- 
thing better than wind. 
« But when it is unable to move the earth, it is on account of its subtlety, which 
enables it to pass through without moving it. But when it strikes against bodies 
whether solid or hollow or of whatever figure, it produces every species of sound, so 
that the earth often appears, as those who utter portents say, to bellow. 
«Water also is often thrown out during earthquakes. But we are not to conclude 
from this that water is the cause of earthquakes, for whether it be on the surface or 
below, the wind it is which supplies the force, which is the moving power, as the 
winds are of the waves, and not the waves the cause of the winds. Since else any 
one might attribute this convulsion to the earth itself, for when shaken it is over- 
turned like water (for pouring out is a sort of overturning). But both these causes are 
causes as matter is (passive not active causes), but the wind is as an inceptive cause. 
«But when a wave occurs at the same time with an earthquake, it is owing to 
two winds acting in opposite directions. But this happens when the wind which is 
agitating the earth cannot altogether repel the sea which is borne along by another 
wind, but propelling and driving it together, it collects a large body of water. Then 
when this wind is overcome, it necessarily follows that a great impetus is given to 
the opposing wind, and a deluge is produced. And this took place in Achaia, for 
without the south wind was blowing, but there the north ; but a calm taking place, 
and the wind flowing inwards, a wave was produced, and an earthquake at the same 
time, and the rather because the sea did not give an outlet to the wind acting under 
the earth, but opposed an obstacle to its egress. For of the two forces in action, 
the wind produced the earthquake, and the remains (ὑπόστασις ὃ) of the wave the 
inundation. 
“« Earthquakes are confined to particular parts of the earth, and often to a small 
part; but the winds are not so. But they are so when the exhalations which are in the 
place itself and the neighbouring place, flow together, since the rains and droughts are 
so too, as we have before said, and the earthquakes take place in this manner, the winds 
do not. For these have their origin in the earth, so that they all flow together into one. 
But the sun has not a similar power, but the lofty exhalations rather so as to flow into 
one, when they receive an impetus from the path (φορὰ) of the sun (? Greek). 
«‘ When a great deal of wind is present, it shakes the earth, producing a sort of 
