110 



' ^ 



snense lake of water, remaining in its place, even to this 

 day. 



In the year 164^, during the terrible earthquake in 

 the kingdom of Chili, several whole mountains of the 

 AndeSj one after another, were wholly absorbed in the 

 earth. Probably many lakes, of whose beginning we 

 Iiave no account, were occasioned by the like absorp* 

 tions. 



The greatest earthquake we find in antiquity is that 

 mentioned by Pliny, in which twelve cities in Asia Minor 

 were swallowed up in one night. But one of those most 

 particularly described in history is that of ihe year 1&93. 

 It extended to a c rcumference of two thousand six hun- 

 dred leagues, chiefly affecting the sea coasts and great 

 rivers. Its motions were so rapid, that those who lay at 

 their leitirth were tossed from side to side as upon a 

 rolling b llcw. The walls were dashed from their founda- 

 tion?, and no less than fifty-four cities, with an incredible 

 fliiinber of villages, were either destroyed or greatly da- 

 maged. The city of Catanea, in particular, was utterly 

 overthrown. A traveller who was on his way thither, at 

 the distance of some miles perceived a black cloud' 

 hanging near the place. The sea all of a sudden began 

 to roar ; Mount ZEtna to send forth great spires of iJamc ; 

 and soon after a shock ensued, with a noise as if all the 

 artilU ry in the world had been at onve discharged. Our 

 traveller being obliged to alight instantly, felt himself 

 raised a foot from the ground, and turning his eyrs to 

 the city, saw nothing but a thick cloud of dust in the air. 

 Although the shock did not continue above three minutt*, 

 yet near nineteen thousand of the inhabitants of Sicily, 

 perished in the ruins. 



The following* account of a dreadful earthquake at 

 Calabritt, in 16'38, is related by the celebrated Fatln 

 Kircbcr, as it happened while he \vas ou his journey 

 MOUIU 



