44 Account of the Earthquake in Chilt. 
the vessel vibrated in an extraordinary manner, her timbers cracked, 
and she appeared strained throughout. 
“‘ At Santiago, the capital, at ninety miles distance from the sea, 
and about twenty miles from the mountains of the Andes, the 
earthquake was less severe; no houses were thrown down, al- 
though many, as well as the churches, were much damaged, but 
no lives were lost. Here, however, as in other places, the inha~. 
bitants removed from the town, and camped out in the open air. 
The effect of the earthquake atAconcagua, about fifty miles N.N.W. 
of Santiago, was much the same as at Santiago, Millipilla, sixty 
miles S.E. of Valparaiso, suffered less than either Santiago or 
Aconcagua; but, at Casa Bianca, not a single house or wall of any 
kind was left standing. At Mapel, the shocks were very severe, 
great part of the village was destroyed, and a pool of water was 
formed in the market-place. Quillota also suffered to a consider- 
able extent, many houses were destroyed, and all were more or 
less damaged. At Valdivia, in 39° 50'S, lat., one shock only was 
felt; it is described as having been “ pretty sharp,”’ but it did no 
damage. At the moment the shock was felt, two volcanoes in the 
neighbourhood burst out suddenly with great noise, illuminated 
the heavens and the surrounding country for a few seconds, and 
then as suddenly subsided into their usual quiescent state. 
‘“« Although no atmospheric changes appeared at the time of the 
earthquake, there can be no doubt that very considerable changes 
took place. ‘The weather, after the earthquake, continued as 
usual; but on the evening of the twenty-seventh of November, just 
eight days after the earthquake, the country, for a great extent, 
was visited by a tremendous storm of rain, accompanied with heavy 
gusts of wind; the rain continued all night, producing terror and 
dismay among the people. Every thing saved from the earth- 
quake, was exposed in the open air, or under such temporary 
coverings as could be constructed with the few materials time and 
circumstances permitted. Few of the tents, under which part of 
the people lived, were water proof. Many were living in enclo- 
sures called ramadas, made of dried boughs and bushes, open to 
the heavens, and many had no other fence than could be formed of 
