GH.Vli. SOUTH AMERICA. 83 



12. On the 2d of December, 1732, was another 

 earthquake at one in the morning. 



13, 14, 15. in the years 1690, 1734, and 1745, 

 three others happened, but neither violent nor lad- 

 ing. But all thefe were lefs terrible than the lafl, as 

 will appear from the following account of it. 



16. On the 28th of Odober, 1746, at half an 

 hour after ten at night five hoiirs and three quar- 

 ters before the full of the moon, the concuffions be- 

 gan with fuch violence, that in little more than three 

 minutes, the greateft part, if not all the buildings^ 

 great and imall in the whole city. Were deflroyed, 

 burying under their ruins thofe inhabitants who 

 had not made fufficient halle into the ftreets and 

 fquares; the only places of fafety in thefe terrible 

 eonvuifions of nature. At length the horrible ef- 

 fe<5ts of this firfl fiiock ceafed ; but the tranquility 

 was of fliort duration, concuffions returning with 

 fuch frequent repetitions, that the inhabitants, ac- 

 cording to the account fent of it, computed two 

 hundred in the firft twenty-four hours, and to the 

 24th of February of the following year, 1747, whea 

 the narrative was dated, no lefs than four hundred 

 and fifty fhocks were obferved, fome of which, if 

 kfs lafting, were equal to the firft in violence. 



The fort of Callao, at the very fame hour funk into ■ 

 the like ruins but what is fulFered from the earth- 

 quake in its buildings, was inconfiderable, when 

 compared with the terrible cataftrophe which followed 

 tor the fea, as is ufual on fuch occafions, receding to, 

 a confiderable diflance, returned in mountainous waves 

 foaming with the violence of the agitation, and fud- 

 denly turned Callao, and the neighbouring country 

 iiito a fea. This was not, however, totally per- 

 formed by the firft fwell of the waves ; for the fea 

 retiring further, returned with ftill more impetuofity; 

 the ftupendous water covering bgth the walls and 



G 2 oiher 



