CHAPTER IX. 



IN THE EARTHQUAKE COUNTRY. 



At the Bay of San Carlos — Earthquakes — Destruction of Concepcion 

 — At Talcahuana — Tidal Waves — Poverty of the Victims — 

 Elevation of the Coast — Darwin's Coolness in Danger — Narrow 

 Escapes. 



HE volcanoes, which reared 

 their white crests high in 

 air, were ever an attraction 

 to the young naturahst, 

 and one night, when at 

 San Carlos Bay, an oppor- 

 tunity was offered for ob- 

 serving one in active play. 

 The sentry on guard first 

 noticed it as a star, but it 

 gradually increased until 

 early in the morning, when 

 Darwin with a glass could 

 distinctly see black masses of matter thrown up 

 against the red glaring reflection of the subterranean 

 fires. He learned that Aconcagua was active on this 

 night, and that a wonderful eruption had occurred 

 at Coseguina, two thousand seven hundred miles 



