nifestation of
Nature's powers. Two papers have been written recently on the great
earthquake of August 13th, 1868--one by Professor von Hochsteter, the
other by Herr von Tschudi, which present an interesting account of the
various effects, by land and by sea, which resulted from the
tremendous upheaving force to which the western flanks of the Peruvian
Andes were subjected on that day. The effects on land, although
surprising and terrible, only differ in degree from those which have
been observed in other earthquakes. But the progress of the great
sea-wave which was generated by the upheaval of the Peruvian shores
and propagated over the whole of the Pacific Ocean differs altogether
from any earthquake phenomena before observed. Other earthquakes have
indeed been followed by oceanic disturbances; but these have been
accompanied by terrestrial motions, so as to suggest the idea that
they had been caused by the motion of the sea-bottom or of the
neighboring land. In no instance has it ever before been known that a
well-marked wave of enormous proportions should have been propagated
over the largest ocean tract on our globe by an earth-shock whose
direct action was limited to a relatively small region, and that
region not situated in the centre, but on one side of the wide area
traversed by the wave.

We propose to give a brief sketch of the history of this enormous
sea-wave. In the first place, however, it may be well to remind the
reader of a few of the more prominent features of the great shock to
which this wave owed its origin.

It was at Arequipa, at the foot of the lofty volcanic mountain Misti,
that the most terrible effects of the great earthquake were
experienced. Within historic times Misti has poured forth no lava
streams, but that the volcano is not extinct is clearly evidenced by
the fact that in 1542 an enormous mass of dust and ashes was vomited
forth from its crater. On August 13th. 1868, Misti showed no signs of
being disturbed. So far as the volcanic neighbor was concerned, the
forty-four thousand inhabitants of Arequipa had no reason to
anticipate the catastrophe which presently befell them. At five
minutes past five an earthquake shock was experienced, which, though
severe, seems to have worked little mischief. Half a minute later,
however, a terrible noise was heard beneath the earth; a second shock
more violent than the first was felt, and then began a swaying motion,
gradually increasing in inte