Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1835. EARTHQUAKE AT rO"NCEPCION. 403 cepcion, from the sea-coast, towai-ds the intei'ior : and in the minds of old inhabitants, well acquainted with the climate of Concepcion, some surprise was excited by so unusual and simultaneous a change in the habits of those birds,* no signs of an approaching storm being visible, nor any expected at that season. About eleven, the southerly breeze-f- freshened up as usual — the sky was clear, and almost cloudless. At forty mi- nutes after eleven,;[ a shock of an earthquake was felt, slightly at first, but increasing rapidly. During the first half minute, many persons remained in their houses ; but then the convul- sive movements were so strong, that the alarm became general, and they all rushed into open spaces for safety. The horrid motion increased ; people could hardly stand ; buildings waved and tottered — suddenly an awful overpowering shock caused universal destruction — and in less than six seconds the city was in ruins. The stunning noise of falling houses ; the horrible cracking of the earth, which opened and shut rapidly and repeatedly in numerous places ;§ the desperate heart-rending outcries of the people ; the stifling heat ; the blinding, smother- ing clouds of dust ; the utter helplessness and confusion ; and the extreme horror and alarm, can neither be described nor fully imagined. This fatal convulsion took place about a minute and a half or two minutes after the first shock ; and it lasted for nearly two minutes, with equal violence. During this time no one could stand unsupported ; people clung to each other, to trees, or to posts. Some threw themselves on the ground ; but there the motion was so violent that they were obliged to stretch out their arms on each side, to prevent being tossed over and over. The poultry flew about screaming wildly. Horses and other animals were greatly frightened, standing with their legs spread out, and their heads down, trembling excessively. After the most violent shock ceased, the clouds of dust which • Chiefly gulls. t Sea-breeze. { Mean time. Equation=14 m. subtractive from mean time. § The direction of these cracks was not uniform, though generally south-east and north-west. 2d 2