274 Natural History of Volcanos and Earthquakes. 



of the most violent shocks was felt, the masting engine at Tou- 

 lon was elevated more than an inch.* This observation is wor- 

 thy of note, as it shows that many effects of earthquakes may 

 often take place at great distances from their seat, which, owing 

 to their minuteness, may escape observation, unless casually dis- 

 covered. For accounts of elevations of a more considerable kind 

 in equatorial countries, we are indebted to Humboldt. The ele- 

 vations in the island of Lancerotejf and those on the coast of 

 Cuma7ia,X are of this kind. 



The most remarkable instance of the elevation of great tracts 

 of country of late years, is that which took place in Chili, on 

 the 19th November, 1822. For the account of this important 

 phenomenon we are indebted to Mrs. Maria Graham, a well in- 

 formed observer. «§> After violent earthquakes, which were felt 

 through an extent of country 1400 English miles in length, and 

 during which, it appeared as if the soil was suddenly raised and 

 immediately sunk again, or as if the earth had an undulating 

 motion from north to south, accompanied with a noise like the 

 rushing of steam, the whole coast for an extent of about 100 

 English miles, actually rose between three and four feet within 

 twenty four hours. || In all the small valleys the earth in the 

 gardens was disturbed, and sand and water rose in quantities 

 through the cracks. The granite rocks near the coast, which 

 are traversed by small parallel dykes, showed many narrow rents 

 parallel to the old ones in some instances. The former were 

 traced pne mile and a half inland. The phenomena which most 

 forcibly arrested the attention of Mrs. Graham, were evident 

 marks of this coast having been raised in a similar manner by 

 earthquakes in former times, and indeed to a height of fifty feet 

 above the sea level. 



* Idem, t. Ixvii. 1808. p. 308. t Relat. Hist. t. i. p. 188. 



i Ibid. t. ii. p. 279. 



§ Geol. Transact, v. i., Sec. Series, part ii. p. 413. Mr. Greenough felt dispo- 

 sed to call in question the observations of Mrs. Graham, but she has defended her 

 statements very creditably, and has been supported by Mr. Meyen, Berghaus An- 

 nal. der Erdkunde, t. xi. p. 129. 



11 Fr. Place also confirms this account of the extent of the elevation, in Journ. 

 of Sc. No. xxxiii, p 36. According to the reports in the Ann. de Chim. et de 

 Phys. t. xxvii, p. 350, two volcanos, in the neighborhood of Valdivia, presented a 

 sudden eruption with a loud noise, and illuminated the whole country for some 

 seconds, but they soon subsided again. At the same time a slight shock was felt 

 in that town. 



