148 EARTHQUAKES. 



At the time of the Eiobamba earthquake, not only 

 were men engulfed, but animals, like mules, also sank into 

 the fissures which were formed. 



The fissures which were formed at the time of the 

 Owen's Valley earthquake in 1872 extended for miles nearly 

 parallel to the neighbouring Sierras. In some places the 

 ground between the fissures sank twenty or thirty feet, 

 and at one place about three miles east of Independence, 

 a portion of the road was carried eighteen feet to the south 

 by a fissure.^ 



Speaking generally, it may be said that all large 

 earthquakes are accompanied by the formation of fissures. 

 The Japanese have a saying that at the time of a large 

 earthquake persons must run to a bamboo grove. 



The object of this is to escape the danger of being 

 engulfed in fissures, the ground beneath a bamboo grove 

 being so netted together with fine roots that it is almost 

 impossible for it to be rent open. 



Materials discharged from fissures. — Together with 

 the opening of cracks in the earth it often has happened 

 that water, mud, vapours, gases, and other materials, have 

 been ejected. 



At the time of the Mississippi earthquake water, mixed 

 with sand and mud, was thrown out with such violence 

 that it spurted above the tops of the highest trees. In 

 Italy such phenomena have often been repeated. 



From the fissures which were formed in 1692 at the 

 time of the earthquakes in Sicily, water issued which in 

 some instances was salt.^ 



By the Cachar earthquake (January 10^ 1869) numer- 

 ous fissures were formed parallel to the banks of a 

 river, from this water and mud were ejected. Dr. 

 Oldham, who describes this earthquake, says that the 

 ' Am. Jour. Sci, vol. iv. * Phil. Trans, vol. xviii. 



