which occurred in India in 1819. 115 



ment. A respectable native chieftain * assured me, that from 

 a hill close to one on which his fortress is situated, fire was 

 seen to issue in considerable quantities. A ball of a large size 

 was vomited as it were into the air, and fell to the ground, 

 still blazing, on the plain below ; where it divided into four or 

 five pieces, and the fire suddenly disappeared. On examin- 

 ing the hill next day (the chieftain stated) it was found rent 

 and shattered, as if something within had sunk, and the spot 

 where the fire-ball was supposed to have fallen bore marks 

 of fire in the scorched vegetation. In the neighbourhood of 

 Murr, where alum is made, and where an entire hill is formed 

 of a bituminous earth f, fire is stated by the inhabitants to 

 have issued to an alarming extent. The Government Agent 

 on the spot reported the circumstance, and that the hill had 

 been shattered, and rent into ravines : the height was likewise 

 asserted to have been obviously reduced:):. 



The rivers in Cutch are generally dry (excepting in the 

 monsoon), or have very little water in them. Native accounts 

 seem to confirm the fact of almost the whole of their beds 

 having been filled to their banks for a period of a few minutes, 

 and, according to some, for half an hour. They are said to 

 have subsided gradually. I was not in the way of observing 

 this part of the phenomenon, but have no reason to doubt it. 

 Two chieftains were sent by me to settle a dispute among the 

 Sandhan Bhyaut ; and as they travelled in a ruth, they knew 

 nothing of the shock. After it was dusk they reached the 

 Sandhan river, in which, to their utter astonishment, they 

 found a strong stream from bank to bank ; nor did they learn 

 the cause till they reached the town. It is remarked that 

 rivers in the valleys, and those with sandy beds, were alone 

 affected. Wells every where overflowed, many gave way and 

 fell in, and in numerous places spots of ground in circles of 

 from twelve to twenty feet diameter threw out water to a con- 

 siderable height, and subsided into a slough. I saw none of 

 these actually forming, but frequently met with them in their 

 sloughy state. The colour of the waters sent forth gave great 

 alarm to the natives, many of whom affirmed that the rivers 

 had run in blood, doubtless from the colour of the soil through 

 which they had been forced. 



* Jharejah Vijcrajjee of Roha: which place is twenty-six miles W. of 

 Bhooj. 



f 1 have the pleasure to send a specimen of this earth to the Society. 

 It is burnt as an incense by the rajpoots, and those who worship the god- 

 dess Asshapoorra. 



% A letter from my friend Captain EUood states, that an appearance of 

 fire was perceived by him near Poorbundar; and the earth on examination 

 proved to be scorched, and to bear marks pf fire. 



P 2 This 



