186 WHAT MR. DARWIN SAW. 



CHILE. 



After viewing Concepcion, I cannot understand how the 

 greater number of inhabitants escaped unhurt. The houses 

 in many parts fell outward, thus forming in the middle of 

 the streets little hillocks of brickwork and rubbish. Mr. 

 Rouse, the English consul, told us that he was at breakfast 

 when the first movement warned him to run out. He had 

 scarcely reached the middle of the court-yard when one side 

 of his house came thundering down. He had presence of 

 mind to remember that if he once got on the top of that part 

 which had already fallen, he would be safe. Not being able, 

 from the motion of the ground, to stand, he crawled upon 

 his hands and knees; and no sooner had he ascended this 

 little eminence than the other side of the house fell in, the 

 great beams sweeping close in front of his head. With his 

 eyes blinded, and his mouth choked with the cloud of dust 

 which darkened the sky, at last he gained the street. As 

 shock followed shock, at the interval of a few minutes, no 

 one dared approach the shattered ruins, and no one knew 

 whether his dearest friends and relations w^ere not perishing 

 from the want of help. Those who had saved any property 

 were obliged to keep a constant watch, for thieves prowled 

 about, and, at each little trembling of the ground, with one 

 hand they beat their breasts and cried mercy (miser icordia), 

 and then with the other filched what they could from the 

 I'uins ! The thatched roofs fell over the fires, and flames burst 

 forth in all parts. Hundreds knew themselves ruined, and 

 few had the means of providing food for the day. Generally 

 speaking, arched door -ways or windows stood much better 

 than any other parts of buildings. Nevertheless, a poor lame 



