Page:The History of the Island of Dominica.djvu/22

yet, it is aſſerted by ſome of the firſt inhabitants, that earthquakes happened here formerly very frequently; eſpecially ſoon after the Engliſh firſt took poſſeſſion of the country; when they were felt ſeverely, ſeveral times in a day, for the ſpace of ſome weeks together, which ſo terrified the inhabitants, that they were on the point of quitting the place, but happily they ſoon ſubſided. Theſe people ſay likewiſe, that although no material damage happened at that time, yet that the iſland was ſplit in ſeveral places; and in particular, a large chaſm was made in a mountain there called Demoulins, ſo very deep, that though they attempted with ſeveral coils of cordage ſpliced together, yet they were unable to fathom it. There is, however, no appearance left of that remarkable circumſtance, which yet by no means contradicts the veracity of their report.

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