A VIOLENT BUT PARTIAL HURRICANE.

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houses were now near me, nor was there much noise even in my own house; though the underground rumbling and rushing were tolerably loud. I fully believe myself, that earthquakes are subterranean, and are never caused by electricity.

The early spring of 1863 was very different from that of 1862, which was an exceptional year in Cephalonia. But there are slight earthquakes every year. Writing home on the 11th of January, 1863, I was disagreeably interrupted by a smart brief shock, and then inserted at once an account of my visitor.

On the 16th of March, there occurred in Cephalonia the most violent hurricane ever known in the memory of the oldest Greek inhabitant. The glass fell wonderfully low. The storm raged for about twenty minutes. Its breadth was fortunately never more than a few hundred yards. It destroyed or injured a considerable number of olive-trees, chiefly belonging to a gentleman who, with his wife, formed a part of the pleasant society in which we moved. It came from the S.W. Had it come from the N.W., I should have expected some terrible earthquake. It tore up whole trees by the roots. It carried off huge branches, cutting them neatly as with a knife. It nearly destroyed and rendered quite uninhabitable one of the houses employed as a soldiers' barracks; so that the men had

to sleep in the school-room till sufficient tents could be provided for them.

Thus an earthquake at Lixuri and a hurricane at Argostoli had caused the British soldier to fly for his life before them within the space of a few months.

A slight earthquake on the 25th of March, 1863, was the last I was destined to experience in Cephalonia. On the 10th of April I left for Corfu. During the fourteen months I had been on the former island, I had recorded twenty-six days on which earthquakes took place. But as on some occasions two and even three shocks occurred in the same twenty-four hours, there is little doubt that I may reckon at nearly fifty the total amount of the earthquakes which I experienced.

Of the duration of shocks it is difficult to judge. But my belief is that no single shock that I ever felt lasted fifteen seconds, and very few more than five or six seconds. My belief also is, that houses built as modern houses frequently are in England at present, would fall like packs of cards before such earthquakes as the two worst that I experienced. The houses in Argostoli are usually built with double walls of stone, with the interstices filled with rubble, or fragments of stones; and thus are not easily thrown down. When well shaken, however, the loose interior lining of the wall helps to create the awful sound of falling and

WATER, FIRE, WIND, CAUSE THE EARTHQUAKES.

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breaking, which on one occasion deceived me into believing that much more damage had been done than was really the case.

Were not these visitations the chief cause of the strength and solidity of the ancient Greek architecture, as they also are of the gradual disappearance of those mighty works of art? In June, 1863, I saw what was a few years ago one of the few remaining pillars of Jupiter Olympus lying broken on the ground at Athens, from the effects of an earthquake, still beautiful though fallen.

The ancients believed, as I have stated at the commencement of this chapter, that the sea causes the earthquakes. Experience without science may, perhaps, give hints to science without experience. Living for months in no slight fear of these always alarming, and at that time constant visitors, it is impossible not to form some opinion on the matter. I believe, then, that by the action of the winds, the ocean is forced occasionally into contact with the realms of fire that occupy the centre of the earth; and that the waves, repelled by the flames, generate enormous volumes of steam, which rush furiously along the hollows, conveying with them the lava of those dark regions. This mass of steam-propelled lava seeks everywhere to escape and makes for the volcanoes; and on its passage breaks through or violently shakes the crust of the earth where it is weakest.

In proportion, then, to their nearness to great volcanoes, or to main channels leading thereto, countries are more or less affected by earthquakes. In a calm, I imagine that the sea may then be retreating from the fires, which it may have before approached. Steam may then still be generated, but not with the same violence as when, in the inimitable manner described by Homer, Pluto

"Leap'd from his throne, lest Neptune's arms should lay

His dark dominions open to the day."

Comparing ideas with the respected and amiable late Bishop of Gibraltar, at Cephalonia, he assured me that he had loug entertained the same opinion as to the manner in which earthquakes probably originated. I hope, therefore, I may be excused for having given vent to a theory which science may possibly prove to be wholly unfounded, and which, indeed, must be so if the mystery of earthquakes can be fully explained by electricity.

CHAPTER X.

The Greek New Year-An exciting Tour of Visits—Unreasonable Complaints of England-My strong Belief in the approaching Union-Author requested to make an Address-Motives which actuated Him to comply— "Hop o' my Thumb”—A successful Hit-My supposed Speech printed at Athens-The true Speech-Greek Hospitality-Projected Address to the Author The English Honorary Members of the new Club, the Kephellenia -A Greek Christening-Barbarous Treatment of the Baby-Legal Necessity of the Custom-Festivities in honour of the Royal Wedding-Dinner, and Illuminations-Cephalonian Taste calumniated-A romantic StoryThe Theatre-Modesty at a Discount-The Prima Donna's principal Friend -An unchivalrous Exploit-The Prince of Denmark to be King of Greece -Beauty to the Rescue-A vainly wished-for Riot-Unfounded Rumours of intended Disturbances-The Clubs and Illuminations-Excellent Behaviour of the Masses-Greeks not yet fit for Constitutional Government— My Departure on the Greek Good Friday-The Address from the GentryReluctantly rejected Addresses.

ON our Christmas-day, 25th of December, 1862, I received a great many visits from my Greek friends: and on the 6th of January, 1863, the Greek Christmas-day, I returned the compliment. Having had no sleep all the previous night, on account of the dreadful bells, I did not start on my visiting tour in the best of humours. But the very flattering manner with which I was received in all the