C 8^ ) 
niftiment, keeping themfelves in that Pofture, not 
knowing where to alight. Wherefore concluding what 
it was, and the Danger in being in an high Brick Houfe, 
I made what hafte I could to get out but before I had 
pafled through two Rooms, and got to the Stair-cafe, it 
was over. It came by Shocks ; there were three of 
them, with a little Paufe between. It laded about a 
Minute of Time in all ; and there was a fmall Noife ac- 
companied it. A pair of Stairs higher it threw down 
moft things off the Shelves, and had much more vi- 
fible Effefts than below. This was generally felt all 
over the Ifland at the fame time, or near it fbme 
Houfes therein being crack'd and very near ruin'd, others 
being uncovered of their Tiles, very few efcaped fome 
Injury, and the People in them were generally m a great 
Confternation, feeing them dance. The Ships in the 
Harbour at Port-Royal felt it and one who was Eaft- 
ward of the Ifland coming thither then from Europe^ met 
with, as be faid, at the fame time, an Hurricane. One 
riding on Horfcback was not fenfible of it. A Gentle- 
man being at that time abroad in his Plantation, told me, 
he faw the ground rife like the Sea in a Wave, as the 
Earthquake pafled along, and that it went Northward ; 
for that fome fmall time after he had felt it, he faw by 
the Motion of the tops of the Trees on Hills fome Miles 
diftant, that it had then reached no further than that 
place. The Spaniards who inhabited this Ifland, and 
thofe neighbouring, built their Houfes very low ; and 
they confifled only of Ground-rooms, their Walls be- 
ing made of Pofts, which were as much buried under- 
ground as they ftood above, on purpofe to avoid the 
Danger which attended other manner of Building from 
Earthquakes. And I have feen in the Mountains afar 
off' bare Spots, which the Inhabitants told me, were the 
Effefts of Earthquakes throwing down part of the HiJls, 
which continued bare and fteep. 
Jamaica^ 
