Earthquake and rising of the sea coast of Chili. 113 



the shock was very violent on the Pampas, fifty leagues on the east- 

 ern side of the Cordilleras. There was a hollow and terrific sound 

 in the air and a gentleman on the Combre, the highest peak of the 

 Cordilleras thought it was falling with the surrounding cliffs, while 

 from below the report as of a thousand cannon, resounded through 

 the mountains. 





Such are some of the leading circumstances attending this remark- 

 able earthquake. We now quote 



2. An extract from the letter of Captain Joy. 



To Professor Silliman — Respected Sir. — I find by referring 

 to my Journal, that I arrived at Valparaiso on the thirtieth of Nov. 

 ten days after the earthquake and that I left it on the seventeenth of 

 Dec. for the United States of North America. While I lay at Val- 

 paraiso, not a day passed without one shock, or more of an earth- 

 quake ; and by leaning against any permanent fixture, we could feel 

 the earth tremble like the boiling of a pot over the fire. The rising 

 of the shore above the usual tide was visible on the whole margin of 

 the bay ; it was the cause and the subject of daily remark, among 

 many of my acquaintances, and frequent visits were made to the 

 shores to observe the effects and alterations made by the earthquake 

 upon them. They w r ere most visible on the rocky parts where we 

 found the rocks to be elevated, from two to six feet above the usual 

 tide water mark : and at the N. E. point of the bay near the town, 

 there were found, after the earthquakes, a great quantity of the round 

 clam (vulgarly called quahogs) in four or five feet of water, where 

 the water was formerly deep, and these shell fish were not before 



known to exist there. ' 



The depth of the bay was found to be in many places from one 

 fathom to two fathoms less than before the shock. 



The remainder of the letter is occupied with statements similar to 

 those contained in Mr. Robinson's letter and we therefore omit 

 them. The statement of Captain Joy, (a perfectly competent ob- 

 server and one committed to no theory,) is full to the point that the 



Mr 



We 



Mr 



a verdict by him in the affirmative, consider the fact of the rising oi 

 a part of Chili as fully established. 

 Vol. XXX.— No. 1. 15 



