The National tribune., 1898-06-30

sForde At fines. on a dark night, the
SUBMITS Of the hills suddenly shone WIN
a weak, faint light. which increased by
degrees: then the bright moon gradually
onneared and illuminated the tops Of the
mountains, as large beacon-hreS would
have done; then again, calm, pcacciui,
and serene. she ref ected her soft, poetlc
light over the bosom OF the lake, as
tranauil and unruilIed as herself IT was
indeed an imposing sight. Towards even
ing, Nature at times showed herself IN
all her commanding splendor, lniusing
q secret terror into the very soul Every
thinfr bore evidence Of the sacred influence
OF the Divine Creator
Al 2 short distance from our house we
could perceive a mountain, the base oi
which was in the lake and the summit IN
the clouds. This mountain served as q
lightning conductor To Jala-Jala; II at
tracted the thunder. Frequently heavy
black clouds. charged with electricity,
gathered over this elevated point, looking
like other mountains trying to oyerturn II +;
then q storm began, the thunder roared
tremendously. the rain fell in torrents;
every minute frightful claps were heard,
and the total darkness was scarcely
broken by the lightning that flashed IN
long streams OF fire, dashIng from the top
and sides OF the mountain enormous
blocks Of rock, that were hurled INTO the
lake with fearful crash.
II WAS an admirable cXempllficatIon oi
the power OF the Almighty Soon the
calm was restored, the rain ceased, the
clouds disappeared, the fragrant air bore
on its vet damp wings the perfume Of the
flowers and aromatic plants, and Nature
resumed her ordinary stiffness.
At several periods Of the year, particu
larly at the moment Of the change Ci the
monsoon, We beheld still more terrifying
phenomena than our storms allude q
the earthquakes. These fearful conyul
ant ,rar Ill flor.
aspect in the country from what they d
in cities. If in towns the earth begins Il
quake, everywhere we hear a terrible
noise; the cdifices give way, and ar
ready Ia fall down; the inhabitants ruSi
out Of their houses, run along the streets
which they encumber, and try Ia escape
The screams OF frightened children an
women bathed in tears are blended wit
those Of the distracted men; all arc o
their knees, with clasped hands, thei
looks raised To heaven, imploring il
mercy with SObbing voices. EVerythin
tottcrs, is agitatcd; all dread death, an
terror becomes general.
In the country il is totally different, and
hundred times more imposing and terrific
For instance, in JaIa-Jala, at the approac
Of one Of these phenomena, profound
even mournful, stiffness peryadcS nature
The wind no longer blows; not brcez
nor even gentle zephyr is pcrccptiblC
The sun though cl0udlcSS, darkcnS an
spreads around a sepuichral light. Th
atmosphere is burdcncd with heavy an
sultry vapors. The earth is in labo
The frightened animals quietly seek she
ter from the catastrophe they forcsee Th
ground shakes; soon il uembleS undt
their feet. The trees move, the noun
ans quake upon their foundations, an
their SUBMITS appear ready To tumbl
down. The waters Of the lake quit the
bed, and inundate the country. Sti
louder roaring than that produced by In
thunder is heard; the earth quivers
everywhere its motion is Simultaneous
felt.
But after this the convulsion ceases
everything reviyes. The ueantains ar