178 EARTHQUAKES. 



LIB. in. aboye two thousand leagues, we can not iudge that this 



Basil, psai. fire is from the centre ; for that hell fire (as Saint Basil and 



m Hexa. other Saints teach) is very different from this which wee see, 



that it is without light, and burneth without comparison 



much more then ours. And therefore I conclude, that 



what I have saide, seemes to me more reasonable. 



CHAP. xxvi. Of Earthquakes. 



Some have held that, from these Yolcanos which are at 

 the Indies, the earthquakes proceed, being very common 

 there ; but for that they ordinarily chance in places farre 

 from those Volcanos it can not be the totall cause. It is 

 true, they have a certaine simpathy one with another, for 

 that the hote exhalations which engender in the inner con 

 cavities of the earth, seeme to be the materiall substance of 

 fire in the Volcanos, whereby there kindleth an other more 

 grosse matter, and makes these shewes of flame and smoke 

 that come forth. And these exhalations (finding no easie 

 issue in the earth) move it to issue forth with great 

 violence, wherby we heare that horrible noise vnder the 

 earth, and likewise the shaking of the earth, being stirred 

 with this burning exhalation ; even as gunpowder in mines, 

 having fire put to it, breakes rockes and walles : and as the 

 chesnut laid into the fire leapes and breakes with a noyse, 

 whenas it casts forth the aire (which is contained within 

 the huske) by the force of the fire : even so, these Earth 

 quakes do most commonly happen in places neere the water 

 or sea. As we see in Europe and at the Indies, that townes 

 and cities farthest from the sea and waters are least afflicted 

 therewith ; and contrariwise, those that are seated vpon 

 portes of the sea, vpon rivers, the sea coast, and places neere 

 vnto them, feele most this calamitie. There hath happened 

 in Peru (the which is wonderfull, and worthy to be noted) 

 Earthquakes which have runne from Chile vnto Quito, and 



