TEMBLOR^ OR SHOCK OF AN EARTHQUAKE. 181 



defend himself. Shortly after this^ two French 

 gentlemen were murdered on the Callao road, 

 and strange to say, no steps were ever taken to 

 find out the perpetrators of these horrid crimes ; 

 they passed quite unheeded by the government 

 as if nothing had happened ; indeed it was quite 

 dangerous to walk the Alameda, or public walk, 

 after dusk, for so many robberies had been com- 

 mitted there during broad daylight. The Eng- 

 lish and other foreigners would never ride out 

 excepting in parties of five or six, and then they 

 were always well armed. During my short stay, 

 Lima was visited by several temblores, or earth- 

 quakes, one of which was very severe, and oc- 

 curred in the evening, when the streets were 

 full of people. In my life I never experienced a 

 sensation more awful — a noise resembling thun- 

 der was underneath my feet — the earth shook 

 and trembled — a sickly sensation came over me, 

 and I was nearly knocked down by men, women, 

 and children, flying out of their houses, scream- 

 ing "Temblor, temblor and running to and 

 fro in all directions. Some lay down on their 



