140 



Natural phenaiiiena and changes are very numerous 

 and interesting, and as this book is based upon all such 

 things as pertain to nature, they will doubtless prove 

 of interest in connection vnth the preceding subjects * 

 which have been briefly treated. One of these agencies 

 is earthquakes, which are very destructive to property 

 and life. Some countries are visited quite frequently 

 by them. Occasionally whole cities are buried and 

 hundreds of people perish in the chasms. Such as these 

 have occurred in South America and Europe, the 

 earthquake at Lisbon having been one of the most 

 destructive on record. These phenomena usually con- 

 sist of shocks or vibrations which are heavy or light 

 according to the distance from the center of the dis- 

 turbance. It causes a tremor or shaking over large 

 districts, and shakes houses even when no further dan- 

 ger follows. The people of the United States had 

 considerable experience with this visitation at the time 

 of the shocks occurring in South Carolina and vicinity, 

 that being nearer than any previous ones. They ex- 

 tend under water as well as through the land and 

 create great swelling of the waves. This is one cause 

 of the changes in and around large bodies of water. 



Animals especially appear to have a correct know- 

 ledge of the trouble when they feel the earth trem- 

 bling beneath them manifesting great fear and anx- 

 iety, often placing their head close to the ground and 

 listening for the v/ell known sound within, and thus 



