CHAPTER IX. 



IX THE EARTHQUAKE COUNTRY. 



At the Bay of San Carlos Earthquakes Destruction of Concepcion 

 ' At Talcahuana Tidal Waves Poverty of the Victims 

 Elevation of the Coast Darwin's Coolness in Danger Narrow 

 Escapes. 



HE volcanoes, which reared 

 their white crests high in 

 air, were ever an attraction 

 to the young naturalist, 

 and one night, when at 

 San Carlos Bay, an oppor- 

 tunity was offered for ob- 

 serving one in active play. 

 The sentry on guard first 

 noticed it as a star, but it 

 gradually increased until 

 early in the morning, when 

 Darwin with a glass could 



distinctly see black masses of matter thrown up 

 against the red glaring reflection of the subterranean 

 fires. He learned that Aconcagua was active on this 

 night, and that a wonderful eruption had occurred 

 at Coseguina, two thousand seven hundred miles 



