108 Lieutenant Iv. Raird Smith on Imliait Eovlliquakes. 



attracting the attention of qualified observers to the subject of 

 earthquakes generally, and I therefore arranged these details 

 and published them in the local journals. The effect more 

 than equalled my anticipations, for a largo amount of addi- 

 tional information was furnished me, and I have received from 

 many quarters assurances of active co-operation. Numerous 

 corrections are necessary in my paper on the .Jellalabad earth- 

 quake, and these it is my intention to make when I prepare 

 the " Register of Indian Earthquakes for the year 1842," ma- 

 terials for which are rapidly accumulating. 



Such a subject as the present expands almost insensibly, and 

 I find myself in possession of information that leads me to con- 

 sider the past as well as the future history of earthquakes in 

 India. From an analysis of details which cannot be given 

 here, I have been enabled to recognise several distinct foci of 

 disturbance so to speak, throughout this country. The classi- 

 fication of these has been limited strictly by the facts in my 

 possession, so that as these extend, modification may be neces- 

 sary. At present, the following are the most distinctly marked 

 " regions," to borrow a term from Mr Lyell, throughout which 

 the actual foci of disturbance are distributed : — 



1. The great central region of the Himalayas, extending 

 from the Burrampooter on the east, to the limits of the Hindoo 

 Khoosh on the west. Undoubted evidence exists of the ema- 

 nation of earthquake shocks from different points on the 

 southern side of the axis of the Himalayas, but none has yet 

 reached me, of any proceeding from the northern, although, 

 throughout the whole of Thibet, indications of igneous action 

 abound. It is, however, probable that such evWence may yet 

 be obtained. 



2. The lateral region of the Himalayas. To this belong 

 the earthquakes that proceed from the lateral valleys of the 

 Himalayas, as from the valleys of Jellalabad, of Cashmere, 

 of Katenander, each of which has been the ascertained focus 

 of shocks, which have been strictly local in their effects. Lines 

 of hot springs appear to connect the foci both of the central 

 and lateral Himalayan regions. 



3. The region of Sinde and the Delta of the Indus. The 

 country between the Hindoo Khoosh and the ocean is con- 



