ON A METEORITE FROM N'KANDHLA DISTRICT, 

 ZULULAND. 



Hy Prof. George Hardy Stanley, A.R.S3I., FJ.C. 

 (Plates 4-7.) 



This meteorite was observed to fall on the ist of Aui^ust, 

 1912, and is therefore of quite exceptional interest, as, of the 

 large number of this variety which have been found, less than 

 a dozen have been actually seen to fall, and, of course, others 

 have been seen without having been subsequently found. 



The phenomena accompanying the fall call for no special 

 comment, as there appears to be no material difference between 

 the observations reported in the present in>tance and those 

 recorded in connection with other falls. 



Briefly, the first occurrence noted was the usual sound of an 

 explosion, wdiich naturally attracted attention over a consider- 

 able area, and on looking up into the sky, a rapidly moving body 

 was seen, whicli left a spiral trail of smoke and at the same time 

 appeared to produce a rumbling or crackling sound. 



It is not clear that only one was afterwards found, though 

 I have only been able to definitely locate one ; there may have 

 been two or three, but the one which forms the subject of this 

 communication fell near the junction of the Buffalo and Tugela 

 rivers, on the Pokinyoni hill, in the N'kandhla district, witliin a 

 few yards of a native woman. 



The accounts are somewhat in conflict as to the direction in 

 which the meteorite travelled, but it was probably towards the 

 South-East. 



The time of its appearance is variously given as from 

 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., but the latter appears to be the correct 

 statement, affidavits and other statements in connection with the 

 fall are appended. 



It is of interest to note that two other meteorites were seen 

 at not very distant dates ; onfe on June 2nd was observed at 

 places as far apart as Grahamstown, Malmesbury, Port Nolloth. 

 Potchefstroom, Standerton, and maaiy intermediate places : 

 another on August 6th at Umtata, Tembuland, but in neither 

 case was the actual fall, if any, observed. 



This meteorite weighs nearly 38 pounds, and consists 

 almost entirely, of nickel-iron alloy; it is therefore classed as a 

 siderite. 



It is coated w^ith a skin of magnetic oxide exhibiting flow 

 lines, and shows also a profusion of " thumb marks." 



The external appearance is shown by the accompanying 

 photographs i, 2 and 3 (Plate 4), which are about one-fourth 



