182 DESCRIPTION OF A TEMBLOR. 



faces ; most of the men were kneeling, and cross- 

 ing themselves^ and praying to their saints for pro- 

 tection. Children were clinging to their mothers, 

 and screaming with all their might; the dogs 

 howled most piteously, and crouching among the 

 crowd, seemed to ask for protection ; the horses 

 stood trembling with affright, with their riders 

 kneeling by their sides, and the birds fluttered 

 about in the air as if their wings were useless.^ 

 After three successive shocks, a death-like si- 

 lence prevailed, and every one appeared rivetted 

 to the spot where they stood. All heads were 

 uncovered, and the different attitudes of stand- 

 ing, kneeling, and laying, impressed me with 

 feelings which I think will never be erased from 

 my memory. This shock happened on October 

 30th, and was registered by many as being the 

 smartest ever felt without doing damage or 

 causing the loss of lives. 



The depravity of morals at Lima is prover- 

 bial. The disgusting dress of the females in a 



* The effect these shocks have upon all animals and birds 

 is very surprising-. 



