200 CHILI. 



1835 nearly destroyed the towns of Concepcion, Talcahuana, Arauco, 

 Angeles, Coluna, Chillian, Talca, and Cauquenes. 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 government, 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 ' EI Punto de Bacallao? 

 and then felt the earth move. The sea retired about two hundred 

 feet, when it commenced returning with great violence. 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 pro- 

 visions. 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 far 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 

 with ; that although they could not allow a church to be put up, there 

 could be no objection to their worshipping in a private dwelling. 

 Since then, a very convenient room has been prepared, and a resident 

 chaplain, Mr. Rowlandson, has been called, who officiates regularly 

 on the Sabbath. The effect that it has produced on the habits of the 

 foreign residents, of whom there are about three hundred, is marked. 

 About one hundred and eighty of them are constant attendants on the 

 service. 



What is somewhat remarkable, the person most in favour of tolera- 

 tion and building a church, is the priest of Valparaiso ; and the only 



