1835.] CHILOE. 279 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Sau Carlos, Chiloe Osorno in eruption, contemporaneously with Acon- 

 cagua and Coscguina Ride to Cucao Impenetrable Forests Valdivia 

 Indians Earthquake Concepcion Great Earthquake Kocks fissured 

 Appearance of the former Towns The Sea Black and Boiling Direc- 

 tion of the Vibrations Stones twisted round Great Wave Permanent 

 Elevation of the Land Area of Volcanic Phenomena The connection 

 between the Elevatory and Eruptive Forces Cause of Earthquakes 

 Slow Elevation of Mountain-chains. 



OH1LOB AND CONCEPCION: GREAT EARTHQUAKE. 



ON January the 15th we sailed from Low's Harbour, and three 

 days afterwards anchored a second time in the bay of S. Carlos in 

 Chiloe. On the night of the 19th the volcano of Osorno was in 

 action. At midnight the sentry observed something like a large 

 star, which gradually increased in size till about three o'clock, 

 when it presented a very magnificent spectacle. By the aid of a 

 glass, dark objects, in constant succession, were seen, in the midst 

 of a great glare of red light, to be thrown up and to fall down. The 

 light was sufficient to cast on the water a long bright reflection. 

 Large masses of molten matter seem very commonly to be cast out 

 of the craters in this part of the Cordillera. I was assured that 

 when the Corcovado is in eruption, great masses are projected 

 upwards and are seen to burst in the air, assuming many fantastical 

 forms, such as trees : their size must be immense, for they can be 

 distinguished from the high land behind S. Carlos, which is no less 

 than ninety-three miles from the Corcovado. In the morning the 

 volcano became tranquil. 



I was surprised at hearing afterwards that Aconcagua in Chile, 

 480 miles northwards, was in action on the same night ; and still 

 more surprised to hear that the great eruption of Coseguina 

 (2700 miles north of Aconcagua), accompanied by an earthquake 



