1832.] 
EARTHQUAKES. 
457 
ing ; the heavens became obscure, cloaking the neighbouring hills 
and mountains, nor did the day recover its brightness until two 
in the afternoon, v^'hen the clouds passed away, but not until a 
heavy dew had fallen for the space of two hours — which would 
not have been a small matter in moistening the earth, had the 
rains not already sufficiently saturated the hills of Chapa, los 
Zeros, Cabeza de Baca, las Minas, Pena Pobre, Mata Covallos, 
y las Laderas de Arce — which overlook the valley of Guanchi 
Guaylas — an irregular event, at a time when the sun is most 
powerful ; nor did the wind moderate in its force or in its heat, 
though it passed over the summits of the Cordilleras ; but de- 
stroyed the vegetation and consumed the productions of the earth ! 
The twenty-sixth was in all respects favourable. On the twenty- 
seventh, an earthquake was felt at three quarters past one A. M., 
and at ten in the day. The alarming sounds which were supposed 
to accompany the earthquakes, were found to be nothing but re- 
peated claps of thunder from among the neighbouring mountains. 
A thing so unusual as heavy thunder at Lima, tended to confirm 
the general impression, that these repeated sounds came from the 
earth ; and the result was, an unusual degree of terror and dismay 
throughout the whole city. 
There had now been experienced in Lima, in the space of one 
hundred and twelve days, commencing on the twenty-eighth of 
October, seventeen hundred and forty-six, and terminating on the 
sixteenth of February, seventeen hundred and forty-seven, the 
astonishing number of four hundred and thirty earthquakes, the 
occurrence of which have been observed with the greatest care 
and accuracy.* 
* A Tabular Exhibit of the several Shocks which followed the Great Earthquake of 
October 28, 1746, at Lima, from that date to February 16, 1747. 
Three shocks. Great wind, and 
motion of the sea. 
Shock. Rain at night, wither- 
ing and sickening. 
Earth quiet and air serene. 
Clear and still. Shock at 12 at 
night of .5th. 
Shock. Rainy. Day stormy — 
night serene. 
Do. do. 
Three great shocks. TempeSr 
tuous. 
1746. 
Oct. 28. The great earthquake : half past 
10 at night. 
29. 'Continued shocks. Nearly 200 
by half past 10 at night. 
30. Shocks incessant. Fear of a 
breaking in of the sea. 
31. Do. do. 
Nov. 1. Inclination earthquake. Night 
preceding, rainy. 
2-10. Forty-six distinct movements. 
10-28. Seventy-four distinct shocks. 
Oct. 29. 
30.' 
Dec. 1. 
2-5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
