Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/204

150 the earthquake of 1820. But the season when the heaviest shocks occur is between March and June.

The above is extracted from notes made by a commissary resident for many years, and constantly holding office under the government of all parties.

Under the dread of such visitations and with daily warnings that "all is not at rest," who can be surprised at the desertion of Acapulco? The whole town at this moment bears glaring proof of a recent concussion. Not a whole house remains. The churches are demolished; one chapel (La Solidad) alone remains, where mass is performed; but even this is rent, and is tottering.

By reason of such liabilities, houses are never built above the ground floor. Those of the lower orders are most sensibly constructed, of cane thatched. Those of the better class, including the authorities, are of adobes, formed of mud and straw, generally from three to four feet in thickness, in the walls. The latter are generally tiled, to afford ventilation, and avoid insects, which are numerous and troublesome.

Pride alone must induce them to construct these mud habitations, for with less expense a frame of cane covered with tiles would be infinitely preferable.

It is rather a remarkable fact that, throughout the whole of these shocks, the rock-built castle of San Diego (or San Carlos) has experienced but slight damage.

I caused very minute inquiry to be made, in order