Papers relating to the Earthquake in India in 1819. 171 



rumbling kind, and resembled sometimes that produced by 

 the quick motion of wheeled carriages, and sometimes of a 

 distant cannonade. 



It is now between five and six o'clock (morning of the 1 8th) : 

 I have felt the motion frequently during the night, and am 

 anxious as to what may yet happen. The morning is close, 

 and appearances unfavourable. My table and chair are at 

 this moment shaking under me. 



We have already had accounts of this earthquake's having 

 been severely felt and committing great havoc at Nowanuggur, 

 Zoona-bunder, Moorvee, Tunkaria, Dhewrole, Amrun, &c. ; 

 at the last place much of the fort has been thrown down, 

 and eight or ten persons have been killed, besides many horses 

 and cattle. 



P.S. June 19th, another considerable shock has been felt; 

 the weather is unusually hot, and appearances unfavourable. 



To George Ogilvy, Esq. Secretary to the Medical Board, 

 Bombay. 



Sir, — I have the honour to report, for the information of 

 the Medical Board, all the circumstances which have come to 

 my knowledge regarding the earthquake which took place in 

 Cutch on the 16th instant; and which, if we take into consi- 

 deration the severity of the shock, and the damage sustained 

 within the range of its operation, has seldom been equalled in 

 modern times. This subject, I am aware, is but little con- 

 nected with medical science ; but as forming by far the most 

 interesting and awful part of the natural history of the globe, 

 I have no doubt every thing relating to it will be acceptable 

 to the Board. 



Different from what has generally been observed in the 

 greater number of severe earthquakes, nothing in this pre- 

 viously occurred, in the state of the atmosphere or otherwise, 

 to indicate the probability of any unusual phenomenon taking 

 place. The months of March and April were extremely hot 

 and oppressive ; but during May the weather became milder, 

 and remained much the same as it generally is in that month. 

 About the second or third of June, at night, there was a se- 

 vere squall of thunder and rain, which lasted for about an 

 hour and a hall". After this the temperature of the air became 

 mild and agreeable; and till the very moment that the earth- 

 quake took place, nothing could be observed to indicate even 

 the smallest change in the weather, for less the approach of 

 such a dreadful convulsion. 



The first ami great shock took plate a few minutes before 

 Bevel] o'clock in the evening of the 16th, and the general 



V 2 opinion 



