PANAMA. 



209 



The effects of a similar phenomenon were 

 observed about a century ago below Cape 



der*s arrival (a surveying vessel in which Lieutenant 

 Barrie was saiHng at the time) at Old Providence, on the 

 5th of April, when Mr. Robinson informed us that he was, 

 on the 23d of January, at Boca del Toro in company with 

 Mr. Shepherd. That they were suddenly startled at hear- 

 ing what appeared to be a succession of broadsides from a 

 vessel or vessels of war at sea. That some turtlers en- 

 gaged in their occupation outside, were astonished at the 

 circumstance, and that they saw at the same time flashes 

 of fire in the direction of Cartago* He also informed 

 us, that the crew of the sloop General St. Andre, at 

 anchor off Man-of-War Kays were greatly alarmed, when 

 at noon the deck was covered with dust, and it became so 

 dark as to require a candle in the cabin. At Old Providence, 

 the negroes fled in terror from the fields. At that island it 

 was attributed to an extraordinary eruption of the volcano 

 at Cartago, but on our arrival at St. Juan de Nicaragua, 

 on the 23d of May, we ascertained that one had burst out at 

 Cosigui'na, and obtained the following informatiou respect- 

 ing it from an intelligent person who was in Granada at 

 the time. " About midnight, the 22d of January, a 

 shock of an earthquake was felt, accompanied with sounds 

 like discharges of artillery. At five o'clock next morning, 



