200 Supposed Connection of Meteoric Phenomena, 



The journals of the Philosophical Society have recorded 

 an instance equally singular. In November, 1775, after an 

 unparalleled drought, accompanied by universal and various 

 sicknesses amongst the natives, a dense fog settled over the 

 island of Sumatra, the wind being constantly in the 50?/^^, 

 and, during its prevalence, it was observed that the sea round 

 the island was covered by innumerable multitudes of dead 

 and dying fish, of all kinds and sizes, the cat-fish and mullet 

 being the most frequent. They were driven on the beach, 

 for more than a month, by the tide, in prodigious numbers, 

 and were eaten by the natives. Mr. Marsden, who relates 

 the fact, endeavours to account for it by a want of the usual 

 supply of fresh water to temper the salt ; an explanation worthy 

 of the ichthyophagists of Sussex. Had the existence of vol- 

 canoes and the frequent occurrence of earthquakes in the 

 island been considered, perhaps the mortality amongst the 

 fish might have been differently explained, by an excess of 

 salts rather than an excess of salt. We are not without evi- 

 dence to bear upon the most probable solution of this and 

 the two preceding statements, which agree with the latter in 

 all particulars as to ihefog which prevailed, and the harmless 

 state of the fish as food. I will not in this place say more of 

 these^cg-^, nor of the diseases and drought in Sumatra at the 

 time; but simply put them in countenance by a reference to 

 what is related of the year 1348, when, according to the 

 report of the College of Physicians of Paris,yc»^5 during 28 

 days, in the time of the great mortality, covered Arabia, India, 

 Crete, Germany, Turkey, Greece, and Italy, corrupting the 

 waters of the sea, so that thefsh died. * 



We will come at once to an elucidation of these circum- 

 stances. Sir W. Hamilton, in his account of the great earth- 

 quakes, in Calabria, in 1783, says : — " A circumstance worth 



with oaths and imprecations, into the sea : and, ever since, the mackerel 

 and some others have kept at a respectful distance. I have, in publishing 

 this anecdote, no desire to offend the Nereids and Tritons of the Brown- 

 sea Island oyster-beds : I quote it only as a possible instance of the phe- 

 nomenon alluded to above. I may, however, safely state that there was 

 scarcely ever a place, on so many waters, where (except a few harbour plaice) 

 so few piscatory delicacies were to be met with. When the corporation 

 would fare sumptuously, they must reserve their banquet till the arrival of 

 a Torquay boat, which occasionally, in bad weather, puts in here. I say 

 this, though, with all deference to the myriads of salt cods and caplins 

 from Newfoundland, whose odorous presence proves Poole to be a pisci- 

 vorous " county." As the corporators are fond of " incorporations," they 

 might endeavour to put our poissonaille on good terms with the authorities ; 

 and propose an enactment by which, in future, the flat-fish and their neigh- 

 bours may be on dining terms with the gastronomists. 

 • * Vide Hecker on Black Death, translated by Dr. Babington, p. 131. 



