PANAMA. 



211 



volcano beyond Mendoza^ possibly from Acon- 

 cagua^ which is in that direction.* 



ascend into the air. This was also seen at Old Village, and 

 throughout Nicaragua. In this capital the explosions were 

 seen to burst with tremendous force the whole of the 23d, 

 and until eleven o'clock next day ; filling the air with dust 

 which shut out the orb of day, leaving the terrified people 

 in darkness, the like of which had never before been seen 

 or heard of. They ran in crowds to the church dedicated 

 to Jesus Christ, as guardian of the city, in the full per- 

 suasion that the end of time was rapidly approaching. 

 The bells of the churches were tolled, the troops assem- 

 bled and fired volleys of artillery and musketry, and to 

 this was added the voices of the people, chanting hymns, 

 in the hope of dispelling the cloud in which they were 

 enveloped, but without effect. It was night for thirty-six 

 hours. The ashes fell so thick as to destroy the pastures, 

 and the cattle on many extensive pens are entirely lost, 

 but fortunately none of the people have perished." 



* See Falkner s Travels, p. 51, for a fact which has 

 been considered impossible. The Cosiguma earthquake, 

 however, proves the contrary. 



