Earthquakes at the Cape of Good Hope. 19 



tremendous noise, that continued longer than the first ; and 

 resembled the report or sound, that would be produced by a 

 great many pieces of Ordnance fired off by a train, at a little 

 distance, The sound was somewhat hollow, and ended with a 

 rumbling noise, but wae not followed by any distinct echo. 



This "second shock roused all the inhabitants, who came 

 running into the streets in great consternation, many of them 

 even undressed from having been in bed. Within the space 

 of about a minute, a third shock, but not nearly so violent as 

 the second, and even less so than the first, took place, accom- 

 panied also by a similar noise, but less loud, of shorter dura- 

 tion, and more rumbling. 



The shocks, as well as the sounds, particularly the rumbling, 

 seemed to come from the North, and to go towards the South. 

 Nothing was perceived however of the wavelike motion of 

 the earth, which has been frequently observed in other 

 countries to accompany earthquakes : and the sensation of the 

 shocks, was such as is occasioned by the explosion of a 

 powder magazine, or the discharge of heavy artillery. 



The wind which had been blowing a fresh breeze from 

 S. S. E. changed at the same time to N. N. W. and then 

 followed a calm. The sky Avas very clear, the stars shone 

 with great brilliancy, and numerous meteors were observed. 

 In Table Bay nothing was remarked except a heavy swell. 



About ten minutes after the third shock, a rumbling noise 

 was again heard, and a shock felt, but inferior, as well in 

 loudness as violence, to any of the former. I, myself, as 

 well as most of the inhabitants, continued either standing 

 or walking in the streets, where we heard rumbling sounds 

 from time to time, till about one o'clock in the morning. 

 During that time it continued calm, with the exception of 

 now and then gusts of variable winds. 



bth December. 



In the morning a little after seven o'clock, another shock 

 was felt, accompanied with a sound like thunder. The wind 

 was variable, chiefly westerly, and in light gusts. 



In walking through the streets of Cape Town, I observed 

 that nearly all the buildings had suffered, more or less, from 

 the shocks duiing the preceding night, as was evinced by 

 numerous cracks in the walls, the traces of which are yet 

 perceptible in many houses. These were irregular as to 

 direction, and extended generally four, six, or more feet, from 

 the top of the walls, and in a few instances even nearly down 

 to the foundations. Although such were visible on both sides 

 thereof, yet they did not amount to open clefts, and I do not 

 know any instance in Cape Town, of a house having received 

 so much damage as to have required it to be rebuilt. The para- 

 pets of many were at that time ornamented with figures, urns, &c. 



