HKKECTrf OF THE EAUTllUL A KE. 47 



served that numerous fragments of rock, which, 

 from the marine productions adhering to them, 

 must recently have been lying in deep v^^ater, had 

 been cast up high on the beach ; one of these was 

 six feet long, three broad, and two thick. 



The island itself as plainly showed the ovei'- 

 whelming power of the earthquake as the beach 

 did that of the consequent great wave. The 

 ground, in many parts, was fissui'ed in north and 

 south lines, perhaps caused by the yielding of the 

 parallel and steep sides of this naiTow island. 

 Some of the fissures near the cliffs were a yard 

 wide. Many enormous masses had already fallen 

 on the beach, and the inhabitants thought that 

 when the rains commenced far greater slips would 

 happen. The effect of the vibration on the hard, 

 primary slate which composes the foundation of 

 the island was still more curious: the superficial 

 parts of some narrow ridges were as completely 

 shivered as if they had been blasted by gunpow- 

 der. This effect, which was rendered conspicuous 

 by the fresh fractures and displaced soil, must be 

 confined to near the surface, for otherwise there 

 would not exist a block of solid rock throughout 

 Chile ; nor is this improbable, as it is known that 

 the surface of a vibrating body is affected differ- 

 ently from the central part. It is, perhaps, owing 

 to this same reason that earthquakes do not cause 

 quite such terrific havoc within deep mines as 

 would be expected. I believe this convulsion has 

 been more effectual in lessening the size of the 

 island of Quiriquina than the ordinary wear-and- 

 tear of the sea and weather during the course of a 

 whole century. 



The next day I landed at Talcahuano, and after- 

 wards rode to Concepcion. Both towns presented 

 the most awful yet interesting spectacle I ever be- 



