458 
SUBTERRANEAN THUNDER. 
lying in the direction of the Silla, north-east of the city, 
were perhaps the vents, at the time of an eruption, for those 
elastic lluids which cause earthquakes on the coasts ot the 
continent. Those considerations, founded on local know- 
ledge of the place, and on simple analogies, are very far 
from a prediction justified by the course ot physical events. 
On the 80th of April, 1812, whilst violent commotions 
were felt simultaneously in the valley of the Mississippi, in 
the island of St. Vincent, and in the province of Venezuela, 
a subterranean noise resembling frequent discharges of 
large cannon was hoard at Caracas, at Calabozo -(situated in 
the^ midst of the steppes), and on the borders ol the Rio 
Apure, over a superficies of four thousand square leagues. 
This noise began at two in the morning. It was accom- 
panied by no shock ; and it is very remarkable, that it was 
as loud on the coast as at the distance of eighty leagues 
inland. It was everywhere believed to be transmitted 
through the air; and was so far from being thought a 
subterranean noise, that in several places, preparations were 
made for defence against an enemy, who seemed to ho 
advancing with heavy artillery. Senor Palacio, crossing the 
Rio Apuro below the Orivante, near the junction of the 
Rio JSTula, was told by the inhabitants, that the firing of 
cannon had been heard distinctly at the western extremity 
of the province of Varinas, as well as at the port of La 
Guayra to the north of the chain of the coast. 
The day on which the inhabitants of Terra Pinna were 
alarmed by a subterranean noise was that of the great 
eruption of the volcano in the island of 8t. Vincent, that 
mountain, near five hundred toises high, had not thrown 
out lava since the year 1718. _ Scarcely was any smoke 
perceived to issue from it, when, in the mouth ol May 1811, 
frequent shocks announced that the volcanic fire was either 
rekindled, or directed anew to that part of the West Indies. 
The first eruption did not take placo till the 27th of April, 
1812, at noon. It was merelyr an ejection of ashes, but 
attended with a tremendous noise. On the 30th, the lava 
overflowed the brink of the crater, and, after a course of 
four hours, reached the sea. The sound of the explosion 
is described as resembling that of alternate discharges of 
very large cannon and musketry ; and it is worthy of re- 
