THE GREAT TIDAL WAVE, MAY, 1877. 115 
Three hours after the earthquake which destroyed so many 
towns, the tidal wave inundated Coquimbo on the Chilian coast, 
passed 
receded. The wave passed the Reo egeice and partially sub- 
merged some of the low-lying islands, and at Opara in the 
Marquesas Isle, ss Rig ‘depot of the ail boats then running 
was partly was 
Mallet, who is atepardsd as an authority upon these subjects, 
ak 
in speaking of tidal waves, says: e vreat sea wave, advancing 
at t e of several milis in a minute, consists, in the dee 
under a ship without boing noticed. But when it reaches the 
edge of soundings, its front eee becomes short and steep, while 
its rear slope is long and gentle 
[Three diagrams.] 
oJ 
