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156 



EAETHQUAKE IN PERU. 



[Ch. XXX. 



nt 01 several Hundred leet, have been examined 

 by experienced concliologists in London, and identified with 

 those taken at the same time in a living state from the bay 

 and its neighbonrhood,^ 



TJUoa, therefore, was perfectly correct in his statement 

 that, at various heights above the sea between Talcahuano 

 and Conception, ' mines were found of various sorts of shells 

 used for lime of the very same kinds as those found in the 

 adjoining sea/ Among them he mentions the great mussel 

 called Choros, and two others which he describes. Some of 

 these, he says, are entire, and others broken ; they occur at 

 the bottom of the sea, in 4, 6, 10, or 12 fathom water, 

 where they adhere to a sea-plant called Cochayuyo. They 

 are taken in dredges, and have no resemblance to those 

 found on the shore or in shallow water; yet beds of them 

 occur at various heights on the hills. ' 1 was the more 

 pleased with the sight,' he adds, ' as it appeared to me 

 a convincing proof of the universality of the deluge, although 

 I am not ignorant that some have attributed their position 

 to ether causes/ f It has, however, been ascertained that 

 the foundation of the Castle of Penco was so low in 1835, 

 or at so inconsiderable an elevation above the highest spring 

 tides, as to discountenance the idea of any permanent up- 



heaval 



modern 



but no exact measurements or levellings appear as yet to 



nime 



worthy of investigation, because it may throw some light 

 on an opinion often promulgated of late years, that there is 

 a tendency in the Chilian coast, after each upheaval, to sink 

 gradually and return towards its former position. 



Peru, 174G. — Peru was visited, on October 28, 1746, by 

 a tremendous earthquake. In the first 24 hours, 200 shocks 

 were experienced. The ocean twice retired and returned 

 impetuously upon the land : Lima was destroyed, and part 

 of the coast near Callao Avas converted into a bay : 4 other 

 harbours, among which were Cavalla and Guanape, shared 



4 



* Captain Belcher showed me these t UUoa's Voyage to South America, 



shells, and the collection was examined vol. ii. book viii, ch. vi. 

 by Mr. Broderip. 





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