]\!liscellanies. 851 



12. Earthquakes at Tabriz.— In 1727, 70,000, and in 1787, 

 40,000, persons nearly the entire population of Tabriz, perished by 

 earthquakes. During the present season, (Jan. 1819,) and towards the 

 spring, scarce a week passes without some dreadful signals. The first 

 signal is a heaving of the earth with rapid shaking of doors and win- 

 dows ; sometimes whole ranges of houses fall, and all their inmates 

 disregarding the timely warning, are buried in their ruins. 



There are generally two thunderings in the ground, seeming to 

 roll regularly on towards the mountains, whence after a pause of 

 several seconds, loud noises are heard, like distant tremendous ex- 

 plosions. If the imprisoned powers (gases, vapors, &:c.) do not find 

 vent, they then roll back again, filling every creature with horror. 

 The earth becomes literally palsied, and even should the dreadful 

 current again take a retrograde motion, every building falls a heap of 

 ruins where the convulsion is felt. During the awful suspense, the 

 people run out to avoid the shock, the most piercing cries are heard, 

 and the very dogs howl and bark. To the European residents at 

 Tabriz, these sounds are often the first signals of alarm ; their houses 

 being so constructed as to yield like wicker work. The whole envi- 

 rons, for more than a mile around the walls, are covered with over- 

 turned houses, mosques, &-c., half buried among the shattered rocks 

 which mingle in every direction with torn heaps of earth and ruins. 



13. Taurus Mountains, south of theEuxine. — This range was 

 passed by Sir R. K. Porter, in the night. These mountains are fear- 

 fully magnificent. In passing them, there was the utmost danger of 

 plunging down perpendicularly many hundred feet; the party ascen- 

 ded steeps and passed along rocky ledges, scarcely wide enough to ad- 

 mit a single horse, on the brink of precipices so terrifically high, that 

 in broad light they would not have dared to tempt them on foot. 

 The train of baggage horses, tied head and tail by halters, and loaded 

 with heavy cases, scrambled over the most dangerous points, when it 

 was so dark that nothing but some preternatural instinct could guide 

 them. In this way they moved with an unswerving pace along the 

 narrowest ridges, with a wall of rock pressing on one side, and the 

 shelving path receding from their footsteps on the other. Sir R. K. 

 P. committed himself entirely to the little creature he rode, and never 

 once touched the bridle ; if the animal's head is at liberty he feels con- 

 fidence in himself, while the pulling of the bridle often brings him to 

 the ground. 



14. Copper Mines. — Near the town of Samsoon are silver and cop- 

 per mines, two of which, called Malett and Jumbish, are very ancient, 

 and have been recently opened ; this district, reaching quite to the Eux- 



