406 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



we thought it probably due to the shock of an earthquake 

 putting a strain upon the cable. Soon after, the quarter- 

 master on watch reported that the vessel was swinging round 

 with a current of a force of from four to five knots. On has- 

 tening on deck to observe the phenomenon, no doubt remained 

 that an earthquake had taken place, and that the current 

 was due to the wave produced. At short intervals, the ship 

 continued to swing rapidly round, and soon we heard shouts 

 from some merchant-vessels at no great distance, which were 

 anchored close to one another. On a boat being despatched 

 to ascertain the cause of the disturbance, we learned that the 

 vessels were fouling each other, so as to smash their top- 

 masts and jib-booms. The surface of the water continued 

 perfectly calm, but we heard the sound of a great wave 

 breaking on the beach, and as there was no possibility of 

 judging what might happen next, all the British men-of-war 

 got up steam, to be ready to go to sea should matters assume 

 a more serious aspect. Fortunately, however, the necessity for 

 this did not arise, and, before next morning, the waters of the 

 bay had assumed their normally placid condition. We learned 

 that though the water had arisen about seventeen feet above 

 the ordinary level, comparatively little damage had been sus- 

 tained on shore, and that no shock had been experienced there. 

 As may be readily imagined, we waited with anxiety for 

 intelligence as to whether other portions of the coast had 

 been equally affected ; but it was not until some days after 

 that we knew of the frightful catastrophe that had taken 

 place to the northward, by which nearly 30,000 individuals 

 in Peru and Ecuador had lost their lives, and an enormous 

 amount of property had been destroyed. The earthquakes 

 continued in force in these regions from the 13th to the 

 16th of August, many important cities being laid in ruins ; 



