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CHILOE 



spectacle. By the aid of a glass, dark objects, in constant 

 succession, were seen, in the midst of a great glare of red light, 

 to be thrown up and to fall down. The light was .sufficient 

 to cast on the water a long bright reflection. Large masses 

 of molten matter seem very commonly to be cast out of the 

 craters in this part of the Cordillera. I was assured that when 

 the Corcovado is in eruption, great masses are projected 

 upwards and are seen to burst in the air, assuming many 

 fantastical forms, such as trees : their size must be immense, 

 for they can be distinguished from the high land behind S. 



PAKORAMIC VIEW OF COAST. 



Carlos, which is no less than ninety-three miles from the 

 Corcovado. In the morning the volcano became tranquil. 



I was surprised at hearing afterwards that Aconcagua in 

 Chile, 480 miles northwards, was in action on this same night ; 

 and still more surprised to hear, that the great eruption of 

 Coseguina (2700 miles north of Aconcagua), accompanied by 

 an earthquake felt over 1 000 miles, also occurred \\-ithin six 

 hours of this same time. This coincidence is the more remark- 

 able, as Coseguina had been dormant for twenty-six years : 

 and y\concagua most rarely shows anj- signs of actiiMi. It is 

 difficult even to conjecture, whether this coincidence was 

 accidental, or shows some subterranean connection. If Vesu- 

 vius, Etna, and Hecla in Iceland (all three relati\-cly nearer 

 each other than the corresponding points in South America), 



