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

406 EFFECTS AT TALCAHUANO. Feb. short ; some, with their horses, were thrown to the ground others dismounted, but could not stand. So little was the ground at rest after the great destruction, tliat between the 20th of February and the 4th of March, more than three hun- dred shocks were counted. Much misery was alleviated by the good conduct and extreme hospitality of the inhabitants of Concepcion. Mutual assistance was every where rendered, and theft was almost unknown. The higher classes immediately set people to work, to' build straw- covered huts and temporary houses of board, Uving meanwhile in the open air under trees. Those who soonest obtained or contrived shelter, collected as many about them as they could assist, and in a very few days all had a temporary shelter, under which they tried to laugh at their misfortunes and the shifts to which they were reduced. At Talcahuano the great earthquake was felt as severely on the 20th February as in the city of Concepcion. It took place at the same time, and in a precisely similar manner : three houses only, upon a rocky foundation, escaped the fate of all those standing upon the loose sandy soil, which lies between the sea-beach and the hills. Nearly all the inhabitants escaped uninjured ; but they had scarcely recovered from the sensations of the ruinous shocks, when an alarm was given that the sea was retiring ! Penco* was not forgotten ; apprehensive of an overwhelming wave, they hurried to the hills as fast as possible. About half an hour after the shock, when the greater part of the population had reached the heights, — the sea having retired so much, that all the vessels at anchor, even those which had been lying in seven fathoms water, were aground, and every rock and shoal in the bay was visible, — an enormous wave was seen forcing its way through the western passage which separates Quiriquina Island from the mainland. This terrific swell passed rapidly along the western side of the Bay of Concepcion, sweeping the steep shores of every thing move- able within thirty feet (vertically) from high water-mark. It * Penco, the first Spanish capital of the province of Concepcion, was overwhelmed by the sea in 1730 : and old Concepcion in 1751.