72 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



time, it will be in a few years more, if not altogether impossible, 

 at least highly difficult to obtain a correct statement of the occur- 

 rences as they took place. With such a view the following remarks 

 are submitted to the Institution ; and if those members who were in 

 the colony at the time in question would furnish in like manner 

 their individual observations, the object to be wished might readily 

 be accomplished. 



Dec. 4, 1809. Nothing uncommon was observed in Cape Town, 

 either on that day or on those immediately preceding it. The 

 weather was fine, clear, and, as might be expected at the season, 

 very warm. But although it was fine in Cape Town, there was ob- 

 served throughout the day, as well as during the two or three 

 immediately preceding it, a thick haze over the eastern shore of 

 Table Bay. The wind during the day was S.S.E. and blew a fresh 

 breeze. 



In the evening, a little after ten o'clock, three shocks, each ac- 

 companied by a tremendous noise, were felt within the space of a 

 minute or two. When the first took place I was sitting in a large 

 company, all the members of which started simultaneously and 

 hastened to the door, the majority exclaiming that a powder-maga- 

 zine must have blown up ; while one gentleman called out that it 

 was an earthquake, adding, he was acquainted with such, from 

 having experienced some on his voyages to the West Indies. W T hile 

 we were standing in the street, the second shock took place, which 

 was felt much stronger; was accompanied by a louder and very 

 tremendous noise, that continued longer than the first; and resem- 

 bled the report or sound that would be produced by a great many 

 pieces of ordnance fired off by a train, at a little distance. The 

 sound was somewhat hollow, and ended with a rumbling noise, but 

 was not followed by any distinct echo. 



This second shock roused all the inhabitants, who came running 

 into the streets in great consternation, many of them even un- 

 dressed, from having been in bed. Within the space of about a 

 minute, a third shock, but not nearly so violent as the second, and 

 even less so than the first, took place, accompanied also by a simi- 

 lar noise, but less loud, of shorter duration, and more rumbling. 



The shocks, as well as the sounds, particularly the rumbling, 

 seemed to come from the North, and to go towards the South. 

 Nothing was perceived however of the wavelike motion of the 

 earth, which has been frequently observed in other countries to ac- 

 company earthquakes ; and the sensation of the shocks was such 

 as is occasioned by the explosion of a powder-magazine, or the 

 discharge of heavy artillery. 



The wind, which had been blowing a fresh breeze from S.S.E. , 

 changed at the same time to N.N.W. and then followed a calm. 

 The sky was very clear, the stars shone with great brilliancy, and 

 numerous meteors were observed. In Table Bay nothii g was re- 

 marked except a heavy swell. 



About ten minutes after the third shock, a rumbling noise was 

 again heard, and a shock felt, but inferior, as well in loudness as 



violence, 



