612 VOLCANIC EBGIONS. 



and such effects may be looked for in crossing the Equator within these 

 limits. It may perhaps extend as far to the "West as the volcanic islets 

 of Peiiedo de San Pedro. The region between these islets and the Wind- 

 ward Islands is also much subject to earthquakes. In September, 

 October, and November, 1890, numerous shocks were reported from 

 this area. 



To the list mentioned on the previous page, we may add, by way of 

 example, the following here : — 



Captain Ballaird, of the ship Bambler, on October 30th, 1850, in lat. 

 16° 30' N., long. 54° 30' W., and Captain Potter, of the barque Millwood, 

 half an hour later on the same day, when in lat. 23° 30' N., long. 58° W., 

 each felt a volcanic shock. These vessels were about 520 miles apart ; 

 supposing them to be in the direct line in which the earthquake was 

 travelling, its rate will appear to be about 1 mile in 5 seconds, which is 

 only a little slower than sound travels through the air. 



The U.S. sloop Vandalia, December 15th, 1859, near midnight, in lat. 

 17° 34' N., long. 55° 49' W., experienced the shock of an earthquake, 

 which lasted 5 seconds, and was accompanied by a low riunbling noise, 

 and strong vibration throughout the ship. The wind, which was N.E., 

 immediately veered to East, and decreased. 



The Eussian ship Dallas, W. Wikander, commander, on March 20th, 

 1861, at 7 p.m., lat. 0° 27' N., long. 20° 30' W., apparently went over the 

 ground; the masts and yards were shaken, and they found afterwards 

 that the false keel had gone. At the same moment another ship, the 

 Melbourne, C. Cowie, master, in lat. 0° 20' N., long. 20° 35' W. (that is, 

 8^ miles distant from the Eussian ship), was startled by hearing a loud 

 rumbling noise, and at the same time felt the ship tremble from stem 

 to stern, which lasted 4 or 5 minutes. 



The ship Florence Nightingale, January 25th, 1859 (1 p.m.), having 

 St. Paul Eocks bearing N.W. by N., distant 10 miles, experienced a severe 

 shock. The captain states : — " It commenced with a rumbling noise like 

 distant thunder, and lasted about 40 seconds. During the first part (? of 

 the day), there was a small confused sea, but after the earthquake a heavy 

 swell from N.N.E. I am perfectly familiar with earthquakes, having 

 experienced many on the "West coast of America, but I never felt one so 

 severe as this. Glasses and plates on the table jingled to a great extent ; 

 articles were shaken off the after-hatch, and the ship felt as if grinding 

 heavily on a reef, which idea found general belief, for the cry of ' The 

 ship's ashore I ' burst simultaneously from the lips of all on board, and the 

 watch below came tumbling up in great haste. I was very much startled, 

 and ran to the side to look for bottom, but soon remembered what it was, 

 and allayed the panic by explaining that it was only an earthquake." 



The following must refer to the same shock, as it occurred within half 

 an hour of the time of the preceding. The captain of a vessel states, in 

 his log, that at O*" SO-" p.m., January 25th, 1859, in about lat. 0° 6' N., 

 long. 30° 28' "W., or about 84 miles N.E. by E., from the position of the 

 Florence Nightingale, he " experienced a shock on board, the vessel 

 trembling and heeling over, the sensation being something similar to that 

 of a vessel dragging her anchor in a tideway. The shock lasted about 



