1906-7. TRANSACTIONS. 137 



I shall now refer to three notable earthquake — the one in 

 Canada in 1663, the one of Jamaica in 1692 and the one of Lima 

 in 1746, and shall give a iev/ extracts from original sources. The 

 extracts are perhaps more adapted for a study in ethics than of 

 science. 



In the Jesuit relations the great earthquake of 1663 is fre- 

 quently referred too, but unfortunately the descriptions are so 

 wild and exaggerated that very little scientific value attaches 

 thereto, outside of the statement of its extent, and inferentially, 

 I think, one can locate the fault or rift where the main displace- 

 ment or adjustment took place. 



Lalemant writes under date Sept. 4, 1663: "An earthquake 

 extending OA^er a region more than 200 leagues in length and 100 

 leagues in width, making 20,000 leagues in all, has shaken this 

 whole country, and caused us to witness some prodigious trans- 

 formations. Mountains were swallowed up; forests were changed 

 into great lakes; rivers" disappeared, rocks were split and their 

 fragments hurled to the very tops of the tallest trees; thunders 

 rumbled beneath our feet in the womb of the earth, which belched 

 forth flames; doleful and terror-inspiring voices were heard; 

 while whales and porpoises bellow^ed in the waters; in short, all 

 the elements seemed aroused against us, and threatened us with 



the direst disaster It made itself felt from Isle 



Percee and Gaspee, which are at the mouth of our river, up to 

 Montreal and beyond, as also in New England, Acadia and other 

 far-distant regions. " The earthquake happening on the Monday 

 eve, Feb. 5, preceding Shrove Tuesday, had a salutary effect in 

 preventing debauches commonly occurring on that day, "thus 

 Shrove Tuesday was fortunately changed into a Good Friday and 

 also into an Easter. " 



" They saw very lofty hills striking together with brows 

 opposed, like headstrong rams, then suddenly and instantaneously 

 swallowed up in the yawning of the earth. " 



Father Charles Simon relates "that a man so shuddered at 

 the sudden earthquake, although at other times he was brave, 

 that his hair, bristling up with horror and standing upright, 

 shook off his fur cap. " 



The following extract appears to furnish some proof that the 

 adjustment and principal movement took place along the bed of 

 the St. Lawrence where our geologists of to-day have placed 

 "The Great St. Lawrence and Champlain Fault," extending from 



