JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



155 



ness; so that the nearest objects became invisible. At 

 4 P. M. the earth began to quake, and an undulating 

 motion was felt, which gradually increased as it con- 

 tinued. This was followed by a shower of phosphoric 

 sand, which lasted till 8 in the evening, when also a 

 heavy fine powder began to fall. Thunder and lightning 

 continued through the night. On the 21st, there was 

 another earthquake, and so violent and long, that many 

 people who were walking in a penitential procession 

 were thrown to the ground. To the terror thus occa- 

 sioned, was added the howling of beasts, mixed with the 

 cries of women and children, and the appearance of flocks 

 of birds, and even of some wild animals, that came into 

 the town, as if to seek an asylum among men. The 

 darkness continued the whole of that day, and was so 

 complete, as to make it necessary to use lanterns. It 

 was partially dispelled on the following day, the 22d, 

 although the sun was not yet visible. 



" On the morning of the 23d, a tremendous report was 

 heard, succeeded by others equally loud and appalling, 

 which could only be compared to violent thunder-claps, 

 or to the firing of the heaviest artillery ; and this new 

 occurrence was followed by increased showers of dust. 

 From day-break of the 23d to 10 A. M. of said day, there 

 was a partial return of light, and nothing could be more 

 melancholy than the sight of the objects now discernible. 

 The streets were covered with a coat of fine white dust, 

 which, as it filled up the inequalities of the pavement, 

 made them look perfectly smooth. People were so dis- 

 figured by it, that they had an unnatural, ghost-like ap- 

 pearance, and could not be recognised except by the 

 sound of their voices. The trees and houses were also 

 covered with it, and looked strange and disagreeable. 

 Yet these unpleasant sights were infinitely preferable to 

 the darkness in which we were again plunged after the 

 said hour of 10, and which was as great as at any time 



