e myself almost
entirely, in the following notice of earthquakes, to the changes brought
about by them in the configuration of the earth's crust, I may mention,
generally, some accompaniments of these terrible events which are almost
uniformly commemorated in history, that it may be unnecessary to advert
to them again. Irregularities in the seasons preceding or following the
shocks; sudden gusts of wind, interrupted by dead calms; violent rains
at unusual seasons, or in countries where such phenomena are almost
unknown; a reddening of the sun's disk, and a haziness in the air, often
continued for months; an evolution of electric matter, or of inflammable
gas from the soil, with sulphurous and mephitic vapors; noises
underground, like the running of carriages, or the discharge of
artillery, or distant thunder; animals uttering cries of distress, and
evincing extraordinary alarm, being more sensitive than men of the
slightest movement; a sensation like sea-sickness, and a dizziness in
the head, experienced by men:--these, and other phenomena, less
connected with our present subject as geologists, have recurred again
and again at distant ages, and in all parts of the globe.

I shall now begin the enumeration of earthquakes with the latest
authentic narratives, and so carry back the survey retrospectively, that
I may bring before the reader, in the first place, the minute and
circumstantial details of modern times, and thus enable him, by
observing the extraordinary amount of change within the last 150 years,
to perceive how great must be the deficiency in the meager annals of
earlier eras.

EARTHQUAKES OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.[622]

_Syria_, January, 1837.--It has been remarked that earthquakes affect
elongated areas. The violent shock which devastated Syria in 1837 was
felt on a line 500 miles in length by 90 in breadth:[623] more than 6000
persons perished; deep rents were caused in solid rocks, and new hot
springs burst out at Tabereah.

_Chili--Valdivia_, 1837.--One of the latest earthquakes by which the
position of solid land is known to have been permanently altered is that
which occurred in Chili, on November 7th, 1837. On that day Valdivia was
destroyed by an earthquake, and a whaler, commanded by Captain Coste,
was violently shaken at sea, and lost her masts, in lat. 43 degrees 38
minutes S. in sight of the land. The captain went on the 11th of
December following to a spot near the island of Lemus, one of