24 



bably more violent before the infiammable materials 

 found outlets by the means of volcanoes. At pre- 

 sent they produce only horizontal or oscillatory 

 motions. From a course of accurate observations it 

 has been ascertained, that earthquakes never occur 

 unexpectedly in this country, but are always an- 

 nounced by a hollow sound proceeding from a vi- 

 bration of the air ; and as the shocks do not succeed 

 each other rapidly, the inhabitants have sufficient 

 time to provide for their safety. They have, how- 

 ever, in order to secure them.selves, at ail events, 

 built their cities in a very judicious manner ; the 

 streets are left so broad, that the inhabitants would 

 be safe in the middle of them, should even the houses 

 fall upon both sides. 



In addition to this, all the houses have spacious 

 courts and gardens, which would serve as places of 

 refuge. Those who are wealthy, have usually in 

 their gardens, several neat wooden barracks, where 

 they pass the night whenever they are threatened 

 with an earthquake. Under these circumstances, 

 the Chilians live without apprehension, and consider 

 themselves in perfect security ; especially, as the 

 earthquakes have never been hitherto attended with 

 any considerable sinking of the earth, or falling of 

 buildings. This, in my opinion, is owing to subterra- 



days, at the end of which there was a recurrence of slight trem- 

 blings that continued during a month, v^-ith short intervals between 

 each of fifteen or twenty minutes. It is not supposed that on this 

 occasion a single person perished in the- whole province, except- 

 ing seven invalids, who were drowned in the city of Conception; 

 and the loss of lives was no greater, if any, in the preceding 

 «íarth quakes. 



