211 



observation of persons habituated to this kind of 

 phenomenon. In this fatal moment, the cries of 

 mhericordia, tembla, tembla # , are every where 

 heard ; and it is very rarely, that a false alarm 

 is given by a native. Those who are most fear- 

 ful attentively observe the motions of dogs, goats, 

 and swine. The last of these animals, endowed 

 with delicate olfactory nerves, and accustomed 

 to turn up the earth, give warning of approach- 

 ing danger by their restlessness and their cries. 

 We shall not decide, whether, placed nearer the 

 surface of the ground, they are the first that 

 hear the subterraneous noise ; or whether their 

 organs receive the impression of some gazeous 

 emanation which issues from the earth. We 

 cannot deny the possibility of this latter cause. 

 During my abode at Peru, a fact was observed 

 in the inland country, which has an analogy 

 with this kind of phenomenon, and which is not 

 unfrequent. At the end of violent earthquakes, 

 the herbs that cover the savannahs of Tucuman 

 acquired noxious properties ; an epidemic dis- 

 order took place among the cattle, and a great 

 number among them appeared stupified or suf- 

 focated by the deleterious vapours exhaled from 

 the ground. 



At Cumana, half an hour before the catas- 

 trophe of the 14th of .December, 1797, a strong 



* Mercy ! the earth trembles. 



