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cated by its Indian name Cuscatlan, "the land that swings like a hammock," and Humboldt has pointed out that "there is no spot on the globe so full of volcanoes as this part of America from the 11th to the 13th degree of north latitude."

An alarming account was given by the senior Senator

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for Minnesota in the course of a speech delivered in the United States' Senate in 1891, from which it would appear that in 1835 there was an eruption of Cosegüina, on the Bay of Fonseca, with accompanying earthquakes,' one of the most appalling events of that character in

1 M. Froebel says this earthquake closed the channel of Tipitapa (between the lakes).

modern times, the sounds as of the earth breaking up being heard at places in Guatemala, and at Kingston, 400 and 700 miles distant respectively. In 1841 the town of Cartago, in Costa Rica, was nearly destroyed by an earthquake. In May, 1844, a succession of earthquakes occurred in Nicaragua which lasted for several days, and Rivas was much damaged, the water of the lake rising and falling.

In 1867, a new volcanic cone was formed in Nicaragua, twenty-four miles east of Leon,' and at the same time 282 shocks of earthquake were felt in the West Indies. In 1870, on the 26th July, there was an earthquake in Managua simultaneous with activity in the volcano of Momotombo, and on 27th and 28th July there were two earthquakes in the adjoining republic of Salvador. San Salvador itself was entirely destroyed 19th March, 1873.

On the 19th June, 1883, from the volcano of Omotepe (in Lake Nicaragua) lava flowed for days, and spread over

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The "Panama Star and Herald" gives an account of this: "On the afternoon of the 14th December, 1867, the people in that city (Leon) were startled by the sudden and almost simultaneous breaking out of a number of volcanic vents on the western or Pacific slope near the base of the long extinct twin volcano of Rota. . . . The first intimation was a low, rumbling sound, like distant thunder, shortly followed by quick, sharp, and continuous reports, resembling the roar of a not fardistant battery of heavy artillery; these reports and subsequent ones were distinctly audible on still nights at the port of Corinto. On the night of the 14th there was revealed a sight which but few people ever witnessed. Two large volcanic fires, with several smaller ones scattered about on the plain, shed their lights on the surrounding country, and even lit up with a warm glow the towers of the Leon cathedral."

the island. The eruption was accompanied by earthquakes, and the whole population of the island took refuge on the mainland. For more than a century it had been quiet, but during the last few years it has been active, so much so as on one occasion to nearly destroy the town at its base.

An eruption of Momotombo1 occurred on the 22nd May, 1886, and Rivas, and several other towns experienced an earthquake simultaneously. Of this eruption it is said that it was accompanied by severe earthquake shocks, during which the whole area of Managua sank 3 feet, completely destroying all the most important buildings and many lives.2

In 1888, on the 30th September, Poas volcano was in eruption, and destroyed the capitol and cathedral in San José, the capital of Costa Rica.

It must be observed, however, that none of the volcanoes except Omotepe are within a distance of thirty miles from the canal route, and in the opinion of Major Dutton-an authority on this subject-the safety of the canal will be in no wise threatened by them.

At a remote geological period the isthmus consisted merely of a chain of islands similar to the Antilles. The

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"The volcano of Momotombo, like a giant warder, stands out boldly into the lake, its bare and blackened summit, which no man has ever reached, covered with a light wreath of smoke, attesting the con. tinued existence of those internal fires which have seamed its deep sides with burning floods, and which still send forth hot and sulphurous springs at its base. Within the lake itself rises the regular cone of Momotombito."-SQUIER, vol. i.

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Kneeland, "Volcanoes and Earthquakes," pages 158, 159.

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