Recent Earthquakes in Nicaragua. — Crawford. 88 
beneath the earth's surface, and give no indications from which a 
liquid condition of the interior of the earth could be supposed. 
3rd. The} 7 may be local on the earths surface, and do gener- 
ally cease when the causes (contraction, shrinkage, etc.), have 
ceased. 
4th. The "waves " of force in earthquakes are sometimes both 
low and rapid. 
5th. When caused by contraction and sudden shrinkage they 
produce a more consolidated condition of the formation, from the 
surface to the focus. 
6th. At the same time they may cause fissures about the focus 
and originate caverns partly filled with liquid volcanic rock or 
with elastic gases and vapors, and these ma}' become the primary 
reservoirs for volcanic materials and forces, from which in course 
of time may be ejected lava and vapors and cinders. 
7th. It is possible that the liquefaction of rocks and formation 
of elastic vapors and gases may cease before the forces are 
sufficiently strong to result in volcanoes, because of the closing 
by some natural cementing process of all the fissures through 
which alkaline waters can find access to the heated interior. 
The difficulties attending the study of earthquake phenomena 
during the exciting times which the}' cause are numerous, various 
and great ; after they have ceased it is almost impossible to obtain 
reliable information about them even from those persons who arc. 
in other circumstances, usually calm and observing. To portray 
some of the difficulties, I relate the following, a part of my 
recent experience : Early in the evening of the 5th instant, my 
party (consisting of four intelligent gentlemen, myself and two 
servants) arrived to remain all night, at Hacienda Fuentas, situ 
ated on the line where the greatest disturbance had been observed ; 
night had fallen and a dark rain-cloud was rapidly approaching. 
The dwelling house was an L shaped, tile roofed, building with 
adobe walls, of which the south and west walls had fallen during an 
earthquake on the 1st instant, and the roof on those sides was 
supported by posts ( See plate II). The tiles on the root' had been 
disarranged in many places or thrown from the roof ; to the north 
was a smooth " patio" or yard about 100 feet, square; all. house 
and yard, occupied the top of a knoll of volcanic materials. The 
" major domo" or superintendent and several men living (in greal 
