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way to these molten deposits, and supplying the steam neces- 

 sary for their forcible expulsion through these lines of weak- 

 ness, and of this latter action there can, I think, be no doubt. 

 That earthquakes may be felt and heard over an enormous 

 area, was exemplified at the fearful catastrophe at Tomboro, 

 where out of a population of 12,000, only 26 were left 

 alive. (Lyell). In this instance the sound was heard at 1,000 

 miles distance, equivalent to an explosion at Vesuvius being heard 

 in Folkestone ; and at Java 300 miles away, the sound was so 

 loud that the frightened inhabitants rushed out of doors, thinking 

 it was an explosion of one of their own numerous volcanoes. The 

 eruption of Morne Garau, in St. Vincent, shook an area of 48,000 

 square miles, and that of Arica was felt at a distance of nearly 

 three-quarters of the circumference of the globe, while the dis- 

 astrous earthquake of Lisbon in 1755 was felt over a space four 

 times the size of Europe, that is to say, 700,000 square miles. It 

 was actually perceptible in Scotland, where Loch Lomond rose two 

 feet. These stupendous effects are produced through the medium 

 of the earth far beneath the surface, solid bodies being much better 

 conductors of sound than the air. There must be something pre- 

 eminently mysterious and awe-inspiring in an earthquake. The 

 rocking of the solid ground gives such a violent shock to the im - 

 agination as well as to the body, destroying in an instant the uncon- 

 scious confidence we all have in the solidity of the earth, and shatter- 

 ing in one moment the convictions of a lifetime (Lyell). The hollow 

 and mysterious sounds proceeding from the bowels of the earth have 

 also a peculiar effect on the nervous system (Humboldt). The 

 feeling too of utter helplessness, the knowledge that no presence 

 of mind, no courage, can avail to save, the uncertainty whence or 

 where the danger will come, the rocking walls, the self-tolling bells, 

 and the dumb agony and terror of the brute creation, all combine 

 to complete the horror of the situation. Mr. Coan vividly describes 

 a fearful earthquake at Hawaii, In 1868 the great crater of 

 Mauna Loa while in full activity suddenly ceased to flow. All 

 knew disaster must follow when this vast safety valve was thus 

 suddenly closed. Nor were they mistaken, " for on the 27th 

 March a series of earthquakes commenced, upwards of 1,000 

 shocks occurring in five days. These continued till April 2nd, when 

 a most terrific earthquake took place, the earth literally staggered 

 like a drunken man. First it swayed to and fro, north and south, 

 then east and west, then round and round, and up and down in 

 every imaginable direction for several minutes, everything crashing 

 down, the trees thrashing as if torn by a mighty rushing wind. 

 It was impossible to stand. Men had to sit on the ground, cling- 

 ing with hands and feet to keep from rolhng over, the ground itself 



