The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-03-24
The Subferranean Forces, Vol
canoes and Earthquakes.


In Europe, the volcanic countries, such
as the regions in the vicinity OF Mt. We
suyius and Mt. Etna, the islands of the
Archipelago, and Iceland, are not the only
ones experiencing heavy shocks of earth
ouakes. and can not even be compared, in
that respect, with the mountains of Abruz-
20 and Calabria, the calcareous masses of
Carniola and Istria, the Valesian Alps,
some parts of Switzerland and France,
and certain highlands in Spain, near the
mouth of the Tage. In Africa, the AL
gerian soil, full of saline and thermal
springs, but devoid of any volcanic charac-
ter, is sometimes powerfully shaken. In
Asia, the peninsula of Gutzerat, and the
immense plains of Rum, where very yio-
lent earthquakes have taken place, are
several thousands of miles distant from
any volcano, while the PHILIPPINES and
Japan are, at the same time, volcanic, and
agitated by earthquakes. The city of
Mendoza, in the Argentine Republic, is
not very distant from the craters of lava
in Chile; and the West Indies, so fire.
quently disturbed by the heavy oscillations
of their bases. are the focus of great
volcanic activity-several of their sum-
mits being large domes of trachyte, or
craters still vomiting ashes, mud or smoke.
However, according to Mr.. Boussingault's
statement, the most energetic and power
full earthquakes that ever took place in
Colombia those which destroyed the
cities of Latacunga. Riohamba, Honda,
Merida. and Barquesimeto. did not pre-
sent any coincidence with volcanic pheno-
mena. and their centre of vibration was at
3 considerable distance from active craters-
The highland of Caracas, famous by the
of 1872, is situated more than
a thousand miles east of the Granadine
volcanoes of HULA and Tolima, and almost
as far from the craters of the West Indies,
from which it is separated by wide ex-
panse of ocean and, finally, one of the
regions of North America, in which os-
are most frequent and powerful
the alluvial plains of the Mississippi
is not near any volcanic country, and is far
from any large range of mountains.
From this review, it is evident that,
although the history of earthquakes is
hardly known, and has been recorded only
for few centuries, and in a small portion
Of the globes surface. strong oscillations
Of the surface are experienced in countries
not having the slightest external resem-
Dlance to one another. either in formation
Or appearance. 1t seems, however, to be
4 well-established fact that shocks are
more frequent in mountainous countries |
Than in the plains; and yet, if the earth
luakes were produced by the efforts of the |
planet to get rid of the gases or the
molten matters within, it would seem to |
De q natural result that the soil should |
remble more often in the plains Of the |
continents, away from the volcanoes and |
he highlands, and where also, according
% the generally adopted theory, the ter
'estTial crust is thinnest; such fat eoun-
ries having, besides, no natural outlet for
he pressing lava
Two thousand years ago, Lucretius ex-
PRESSED, in magnificent and poetical Ian
yuage, the theory which Mr.. Otto Yolger
nd other biologists, are now scientifically
eviving. Learn now the cause of earth
Iuakes, and be above all persuaded that
he interior Of the globe is, ike the sur
ace, filed with winds, caverns, lakes,
1recipices, stones, rocks, and many in
ernal streams. the impetuous waves of
which carry along with them submerged
ocks and stones for reason will teach
'ou that the earth must be everywhere
imilar. The shakiDgs of the surface of
he globe are occasioned by the internal
down of some enormous caverns,
Thich time has succeeded in demohsh-
ng, for whole mountains are falling,
nd their sudden and violent fall is
'ropagated far away by terrible reyolu-
ions thus chariot, the weight Of which
} not very considerable, causes all the
edihces to move, and the spir-
Ted steeds, in turning the iron-encireled
heels, shake everything around them.
may also happen that an enormous mass
{ land falling into great subterranean
Ike should cause the earth to shake with
uccessive nndulations- Thus, on the
arth's surface, vase filed with agitated
Iater, can not find its equilibrium before
be water it contains has resumed its
,vel.n
The principal cause of earthquakes in
countries is probably owing
D the action of springs or sources. In the
purse Of ages, whole strata, dissolved BY
INNING streams of water. disappear en-
rely from the bowels Of the earth. and
ter having been more or less modified,
are distributed on the surface.
according TO Ramsay and LyeIl; the