C. Keferstein on White Copper. 119 



of Cutch fell in such torrents for hours successively, that, 

 combined with occasional shocks of the earthquake, it excited 

 the most alarming fears in the minds of the inhabitants. To 

 die eastward we had it less severe, though equally constant ; 

 and were I to say that for two months we never had a day 

 without some rain, I believe I should not be exaggerating. 

 In consequence, the crops have either failed, or could never 

 be sown ; and grain is now selling at the rate at which it sold 

 in Cutch in the famine of 1812-13. We have always much 

 thunder and lightning in Cutch during the monsoon, this sea- 

 son I think more than common ; and the heavy clouds, which 

 for a period of three months never ceased to travel close to 

 the earth from the S. W., obscured the sun for many days suc- 

 cessively. We had also a storm of wind from the westward, 

 which amounted to a hurricane in the western parts of Cutch. 

 These occasionally have happened before, and are called by 

 the natives hoovoah. 



Such are the details of the circumstances attending the 

 earthquake of 1819. I have much reason to solicit the par- 

 don of the Society for having descended to such trifling par- 

 ticulars ; and the only apology I have to offer, is the circum- 

 stance of such a phenomenon having so seldom occurred in 

 India with similar violence. 



(Signed) J. Macmurdo, 

 Camp at Bhooj, Jan. 27, 1820. Captain 7th regt. N. I. 



[To be continued.] 



XXII. On White Copper. By C. Keferstein. Read at a 

 Meeting of the German Explorers of Nature at Halle, Sejj- 

 tember 18, 1823*. 



T^OR a considerable period white copper has been made 

 ■ and manufactured at Suhl, in the Henneberg country, and 

 the neighbouring places, particularly for the mounting of guns 

 or firelocks, but likewise for other purposes, as for spurs and 

 the likef. This metal strongly resembles silver, even to de- 

 ception, keeps excellently without tarnishing, has the colour 

 of silver on the touch-stone, is not brittle, but on the contrary 

 extremely malleable, contains no arsenic like the metallic com- 

 pound usually called white copper; and is therefore very 

 useful in the manufactories at Suhl. 



* From Schweigger's Neites Journal, band ix. p. 1 7- 



f The French and Spanish gun-manufacturers arc said to ornament their 

 finest guns with the same metal, as it is peculiarly adapted to that purpose. 

 They say they obtain this metal from the East Indies. More particular data 

 on this subject have not come to my knowledge. 



Of 



