21Z A Voyage to 



cenjfBtirer There is no refle&ing upon fuch extraordinary Pliaeno^ 

 mncemmg m enons, without being led by natural Curiofity to en- 

 Mmh^mhs. <juirc imathc Cau f e of them , That w h icll Philofophers: 



generally aflfign for Earthquakes, does not always appear 

 fatisfa&ory^ They are afcribed to fobterraneous Winds, 

 and Fires ; but it is likely they ought rather to be look' d 

 upon as an Effect of the Waters the Earth W inwardly- 

 moiften'd with, as living Bodies are by the Veins. There* 

 steeds* only digging, and the Truth of this Suppofition al^ 

 moft every where appears ; now the Waters may occafion* 

 EarthquaKes after feveral Manners,, either by diffolving 

 the Salts fcatter*d through the Earth, or by penetrating 

 through porous Lands, mix'd with Stones, which they in- 

 fenfibly loofen, the Fall or Removal whereof muft caufe a 

 Stroke or Shock, fuch as is felt in Earthquakes^ Laftly, the 

 Water penetrating fome Sulphureous Bodies, muff there 

 caufe a Fermentation, and then the Heat produces Winds 

 and foul Exhalations, which infeft the Atr when they open 

 the Earth, whence ir is a that after great Earthquakes a- 

 foimdance of People die, as has been related ztSantiagpm& 

 Lima* The Facility of this Fermentation is proved by the 

 Example of Lime, and by a curious Experiment of Monv 

 fieur Ijmery^ particularized in the Memoirsof the Academy 

 of Sciences,, for the Year 170c 

 mihpphkd If after having temper'd eqital Parts of Filings of Irotr^ 

 Mz&rfmtxt. and of Sulphur to-a certain Quantky,as of jo or 40 Pounds^ 

 with Watery that Amafgama, or Psfte,, be bury'd in the 

 Ground a Foot deep, it will open and caff forth hot Yk£ 

 pours,, and then Flame*. 

 Why more Now in Peru and Chill the Earth is all full of Mines of 

 Eanhquahs Salt, of Sulphur and of Metals ; add to this^ that there are 

 *e& the Coaft burning Mountains^'which calcine the Stones, and dilate the - 

 ia/*<£ Sulphurs; Earthquakes muft therefore be there ¥ery fre- 

 q.uent,and particularly along the Sea Coails,which are more 

 .water'd than towards the Top of the Ridge ef Mountains 

 zzlVdlaCordilkm, which is very agreeabk taExperience, for 

 Acre are fome Places where the laid Earthquakes are very 



