38 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



three blocks felt three severe shocks of earthquake. 

 The inhabitants were distracted with terror. Birds 

 flew wildly through the streets, and, blinded by the 

 dust, fell dead on the ground. At four o'clock it was 

 so dark that, as Mr. S. says, he held up his hand before 

 his eyes, and could not see it. Nobody moved with- 

 out a candle, which gave a dim and misty light, ex- 

 tending only a few feet. At this time the church wa? 

 full, and could not contain half who wished to enter 

 The figure of the Virgin was brought out into the plaza 

 and borne through the streets, followed by the inhabi- 

 tants, with candles and torches, in penitential proces 

 sion, crying upon the Lord to pardon their sins. Bella 

 tolled, and during the procession there was anothei 

 earthquake, so violent and long that it threw to the 

 ground many people walking in the procession. The 

 darkness continued till eleven o'clock the next day 

 when the sun was partially visible, but dim and hazy, 

 and without any brightness. The dust on the ground 

 was four inches thick ; the branches of trees broke with 

 its weight, and people were so disfigured by it that they 

 could not be recognised. 



At this time Mr. S. set out for his hacienda at Zon- 

 zonate. He slept at the first village, and at two or 

 three o'clock in the morning was roused by a report 

 like the breaking of most terrific thunder or the firing 

 of thousands of cannon. This was the report which 

 startled the people of Guatimala, when the command- 

 ant sallied out, supposing that the quartel was attacked, 

 and which was heard at Kingston in Jamaica. It was 

 accompanied by an earthquake so violent that it almost 

 threw Mr. S. out of his hammock.* 



* This may at first appear no great feat for an earthquake, but no stronger 

 proof can be cited of the violence with which the shock affects the region in 

 which it occurs. 



