PLAN OF STUDY, 
173 
of the ground to the tension of elastic fluids, cited in favour 
T,u 1011 ’ 1 th6 ., total cessation of the shocks at the 
tiiie pki n 1 * Ub0ea ’ bj ‘ e ° pCIllng of a ercvice m the Lelan- 
phcn0, " e 1 na ° f ™ leanoes - and those of earthquakes, 
hare ^ een . considered of late as the effects of voltaic electri- 
rl 0ped particular disposition of heterogeneous 
strata. It cannot be denied, that often, when violent shocks 
succeed each other within the space of a few hours, the 
electricity of the air sensibly increases at the instant the 
ground is most agitated; but to explain this phenomenon 
it is unnecessary to recur to an hypothesis, which is in 
direct contradiction to everything hitherto observed respect- 
ing the structure of our planet, and the disposition of its 
Chapter V. 
Peninsula of Araya.— Salt-marshes.— Ruins of the Castle of 
Santiago. 
• T U f. lirst we . e ks of our abode at Cumana were employed 
™ JdSr? 0ur “ struments > i" herborizing in the neighbour- 
thf m e ¥ mm %L the t , races of the earthquake of 
the 14th ol December, 1797. Overpowered at once by a 
great number of objects, we were somewhat embarrassed how 
to lay down a regular plan of study and observation Whilst 
every surrounding object was fitted to inspire in us the most 
lively interest, our physical and astronomical instruments in 
then turns excited strongly the curiosity of the inhabitants 
VV e had numerous visitors j and in our desire to satisfy per- 
sons who appeared so happy to see the spots of the moon 
through Dolloud s telescope, the absorption of two gases in a 
of tfVof we a w Ube, n ;th a f ffeeta ° f S aIyatlism on the motions 
t 8 ’ , f t0 answer questions often obscure, 
and to repeat for whole hours the same experiments. These 
scenes were renewed for the space of five years, whenever 
«e took up our abode in a place where it was understood 
sk j • 0ea ,l ed °i n ? y w J’® na crevice, which ejected a river ol 
hery mud, opened in the plain of Lelantum, near Chalci*.”— Strabo. 
