DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0329
EFFECTS OF AN EARTHQUAKE. 329
■ For the first time in my life, I saw in Tiberias the
disasterous effects of an earthquake. It occurred on
the 1st day of January, 1837; and its ravages in the
place had been awful. Comparatively but little had
yet been done to repair its effects. Parts of the town
walls had been thrown down; and the portions yet
standing were filled with crevices. The whole would
have to be taken down, if ever repaired. The castle
had suffersd much. A large portion of the houses
were thrown down, and very few remained without
injury. Many of the houses now inhabited, still bear
prominent marks of the wreck they then experienced.
I noticed that some low, wooden buildings had been
hastily put up where stone houses had been demol-
ished. Several minarets had been thrown down by
the shock, and since rebuilt. Many fallen houses still
remained in their ruined state; and, indeed, ruins still
marked the town in every direction. It is probable
that Tiberias will not, for many years, if ever, re-
cover from this disaster. The destruction of life, too,
was very considerable; and it is said, on the Jews fell
the heaviest part of the calamity. The same earth-
quake nearly destroyed the town of Safed, a few
miles north-west, and buried hundreds of the inhabit-
ants under the ruins. Slight shocks were still expe-
rienced occasionally; and the inhabitants of Tiberias
were fearing another disaster.
The plain runs back from the town to the foot of
the mountain; and in the sides of the mountain are
large ranges of tombs. To the south of the present
wall are many ruins, extending more than a mile in
that direction. The ancient town probably once cov-
22
■ For the first time in my life, I saw in Tiberias the
disasterous effects of an earthquake. It occurred on
the 1st day of January, 1837; and its ravages in the
place had been awful. Comparatively but little had
yet been done to repair its effects. Parts of the town
walls had been thrown down; and the portions yet
standing were filled with crevices. The whole would
have to be taken down, if ever repaired. The castle
had suffersd much. A large portion of the houses
were thrown down, and very few remained without
injury. Many of the houses now inhabited, still bear
prominent marks of the wreck they then experienced.
I noticed that some low, wooden buildings had been
hastily put up where stone houses had been demol-
ished. Several minarets had been thrown down by
the shock, and since rebuilt. Many fallen houses still
remained in their ruined state; and, indeed, ruins still
marked the town in every direction. It is probable
that Tiberias will not, for many years, if ever, re-
cover from this disaster. The destruction of life, too,
was very considerable; and it is said, on the Jews fell
the heaviest part of the calamity. The same earth-
quake nearly destroyed the town of Safed, a few
miles north-west, and buried hundreds of the inhabit-
ants under the ruins. Slight shocks were still expe-
rienced occasionally; and the inhabitants of Tiberias
were fearing another disaster.
The plain runs back from the town to the foot of
the mountain; and in the sides of the mountain are
large ranges of tombs. To the south of the present
wall are many ruins, extending more than a mile in
that direction. The ancient town probably once cov-
22