1835.] MISERY CAUSED BY EARTHQUAKE. 305 



reach it before it broke. One old woman with a little bov, 

 four or five years old, ran into a boat, but there was nobody 

 to row it out ; the boat was consequently dashed against 

 an anchor and cut in twain ; the old woman was drowned, 

 but the child was picked up some hours afterwards cling-ing- 

 to the wreck. Pools of salt water were still standing 

 amidst the ruins of the houses, and children, making- boats 

 with old tables and chairs, appeared as happy as their 

 pai-ents were miserable. It was, however, exceedingly 

 interesting to observe, how much more active and cheerful 

 all appeared than could have been expected. It was re- 

 marked with much truth, that from the destruction being- 

 universal, no one individual was humbled more than another, 

 or could suspect his friends of coldness — that most grievous 

 result of the loss of wealth. Mr. Rouse, and a large party 

 whom he kindly took under his protection, lived for the 

 first week in a garden beneath some apple-trees. At first 

 they were as inerry as if it had been a picnic ; but soon 

 afterwards heavy rain caused much discomfort, for they 

 were absolutely without shelter. 



In Captain Fitz Roy's excellent accourit of the earth- 

 quake, it is said that two explosions, one like a column of 

 smoke and another like the blowing of a great whale, were 

 seen in the bay. The water also appeared everywhere to 

 be boiling ; and it "became black, and exhaled a most dis- 

 agreeable sulphureous smell." These latter circumstances 

 were observed in the Bay of Valparaiso during the earth- 

 quake of 1822 ; they may, I think, be accounted for, by the 

 disturbance of the mud at the bottom of the sea containing 

 organic matter in decay. In the Bay of Callao, during a 

 calm day, I noticed, that as the ship dragged her cable over 

 the bottom, its course was marked by a line of bubbles. 

 The lower orders in Talcahuano thought that the earth- 

 quake was caused by some old Indian women, who two 

 years ago being offended stopped the volcano of Antuco. 

 This silly belief is curious, because it shows that experience 

 has taught them to observe, that there exists a relation 

 between the suppressed action of the volcanoes, and the 

 trembling of the ground. It was necessary to apply the 

 witchcraft to the point where their perception of cause and 

 effect failed ; and this was the closing of the volcanic vent. 

 This belief is the more singular in this particular instance, 

 because, according to Captain Fitz Roy, there is reason to 

 believe that Antuco was noways alTected. 



