CHILI. 205 
The great one of 1730, was in July ; that of 1751, in May ; and those 
of 1822 and 1835, both of which did much damage, in February. 
Slight shocks of earthquakes are experienced very frequently 
throughout Chili. One during our stay, on the 28th of May, started 
every one from their beds, but the shock was not repeated. No 
peculiar state of the weather, or other phenomenon, seems to precede 
them. That of 1835 nearly destroyed the towns of Concepcion, 
Talcahuana, Arauco, Angeles, Coluna, Chillian, Talca, and Cau- 
quenes. It was very slightly felt in Valparaiso, and scarcely at all 
farther north. The sea receded in Valparaiso two feet, and returned 
immediately. The ground seemed to swell under the feet. In Juan 
Fernandez it was very severely felt ; and the following extract from 
the report of the then governor of that island, to the supreme govern- 
ment, is interesting. " I was walking, at the Castle of Santa Barbara, 
with the commandant of the garrison, when we suddenly observed 
that the sea had come over the mole. Fearing great damage, I 
hastened to have the boats drawn from under a shed, and prepared 
for use. At the same moment we heard a loud roaring, as of thunder, 
and saw a white column, like smoke, rise from the sea, a short 
distance from the place called ' El Punto de Bacallao,' and then felt 
the earth move. The sea retired about two hundred feet, when it 
commenced returning with great \uolence. This time it carried 
nearly every thing with it ; broke down all the houses and huts but 
the one recently built of stone and mortar to contain provisions. 
Happily, this withstood its violence, although the water ascended 
more than six feet up its sides. It then retired again to its usual 
height. Constant shocks were felt during the night, and the sea, at 
the place before mentioned, continued throwing up water and smoke 
like a volcano." 
Chili abounds with volcanic mountains, but few of them are in an 
active state of eruption, which may account for the frequency of 
earthquakes. The peak of Tupongati is the only one in activity in 
this section. Our travellers to the Cordilleras were not fortunate 
enough to get a sight of it at night. 
Although by the constitution the Catholic religion is the established 
one, yet they have become so enlightened as to tolerate that of the 
Protestant Episcopal form. A license could not be given to build a 
church, but the authorities, on being asked if the worship would be 
permitted, readily gave an assurance that it would not be interfered 
vnr.. t. 52 
