274 Natural History of Volcanos and Earthquakes. 4 
of the most violent shocks was felt, the masting engine at Tou- 
lon was elevated more than an inch.* This observation is wor- 
thy of note, as it shows that many effects of earthquakes may 
often take place at great distances from their seat, which, owing 
to their minuteness, may escape observation, unless casually dis- 
covered. For accounts of elevations of a more considerable kind 
in equatorial countries, we are indebted to Humboldt. The ele- 
vations in the island of Lancerote,t and those on the coast of 
Cumana,{ are of this kind. - 
The most remarkable instance of the elevation of great tracts 
of country of late years, is that which took place in Chili, on | 
the 19th November, 1822. For the account of this. important | 
phenomenon we are indebted to Mrs. Maria Graham, a well in- | 
formed observer.$ After violent earthquakes, which were felt 
through an extent of country 1400 English miles in length, and 
during which, it appeared as if the soil was suddenly raised and 
immediately sunk again, or as if the earth had an undulating | 
motion from north to south, accompanied with a noise like the | 
rushing of steam, the whole coast for an extent of about 100 | 
English miles, actually rose between three and four feet within | 
twenty four hours.|| In all the small valleys the earth in the 
gardens was disturbed, and sand and water rose in quantities 
through the cracks. The granite rocks near the coast, which 
are traversed by small parallel dykes, showed many narrow rents 
parallel to the old ones in some instances. The former were 
traced one mile and a half inland. The phenomena which most 
forcibly arrested the attention of Mrs. Graham, were evident 
marks of this coast having been raised ina similar manner by 
earthquakes in former times, and indeed to a height of fifty feet 
above the sea level. 
. ee 
* Idem, t. Ixvii. 1808. p. 308. t Relat. Hist. t. i. p. 188. 
t Ibid. t. ii. p. 279. 
§ Geol. Transact. v. i., Sec. Series, part ii. p. 413. Mr. Greenough felt dispo- 
sed to call in question the observations of Mrs, Graham, but she has defended her 
Statements very creditably, and has been supported by Mr. Meyen, Berghaus = 
nal. der Erdkunde, t. xi. p. 129. 
|| Fr. Place also confirms this account of the extent of the elevation, in meee? 
of Sc. No. xxxiii, p. 36. According to the reports in the Ann. de Chim. bg 
il nte 
i os some 
seconds, but they soon subsided again. At the same time a slight shock was felt 
inthattown. - 
