EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES ON LAND. 155 



have become dry has been very apparent, as, for instance, at 

 the time of theZenkoji earthquake in Japan in 1847, when 

 the Shikuma-gawa became partly dry in consequence of the 

 large masses of earth which had been shaken down from 

 overhanging cliffs damming a portion of its course, and 

 thus forming, first, lakes, and subsequently, new water- 

 courses. As another example, out of the many which 

 might be quoted, may be mentioned the sudden drying 

 up of the river Aboat, a tributary of the Magat, in the 

 Philippine Islands, on July 27, 1881, shortly after a severe 

 shock of earthquake. The water of this river ceased to 

 flow for two hours, after which it reappeared with con- 

 siderable increase of volume and of a reddish colour. 

 Signer E. A. Casariego, who describes this, remarks that 

 the phenomenon could easily be explained through the 

 slipping down of the steep banks in narrow parts of its 

 upper valley, by which means its flow had been obstructed 

 until the water had time to accumulate and pass over or 

 demolish the obstruction. 



After the earthquake of Belluno (June 29, 1873), the 

 torrent Tesa, which is ordinarily limpid, became very 

 muddy.^ Similar phenomena have been observed even in 

 Britain, as, for instance, in 1787, when, at the time of a 

 shock which was felt in Glasgow, there was a temporary 

 stoppage in the waters of the Clyde. Again, in 1110, 

 there was a dreadful earthquake at Shrewsbury and 

 Nottingham, and the Trent became so low at Nottingham 

 that people walked over it. 



The earthquake of 1158, which was felt in many parts 

 of England, was accompanied by the drying up of the 

 Thames, which was so low that it could be crossed on foot 

 even at London.^ 



* Conqjte Bendtiy 1873, p. QQ. 



* An Histm'ical Account of Earthquakes, p. 46. 



