which occurred in India in 1819. 173 



and Bhooj appear to have suffered much more than any other 

 I have yet heard of; in the former nearly 200 dead bodies 

 have been dug out of the ruins, and in the latter 1000 are sup- 

 posed to have perished, besides numbers in both towns miser- 

 ably maimed. It would be impossible even to guess at the 

 number of victims throughout the country: it will be sufficient 

 to remark that not only in large towns the fatal effects of 

 the shock have been felt, but even in the smallest villages 

 some lives have been lost. In Anjar the effects of the shock 

 appear to have been greatly modified by difference of situa- 

 tion ; the quarter of the town towards the east, and which is 

 the lowest, has been reduced to one mass of ruins. Neither 

 street nor lane is to be discovered, and literally there is not 

 one stone remaining on the top of another : the town wall on 

 this side has suffered in an equal degree. The other part of 

 the town, with the wall, though dreadfully shattered, does not 

 appear to have suffered one tenth part of the injury. This 

 must be accounted for from the lower part being situated at a 

 considerable distance from the rock, upon a bed of white 

 aluminous earth, while in the higher part the foundations of 

 the houses are situated immediately upon the rock. It could 

 not be owing to the shock being more severe in that particular 

 place, as, extending over such a considerable tract of country, 

 its force could not have differed in such a small space. 



Since the 16th constant shocks have been felt, perhaps all 

 together nearly thirty in number. The weather continues 

 much the same as might be expected at this season. The wind 

 is very variable: heavy squalls are suddenly succeeded by 

 dead calms. The atmosphere is cloudy, with a hazy horizon. 

 There is nothing peculiar in the appearance of the sun at 

 rising or setting ; only one meteor (a ball of fire) has been ob- 

 served since the occurrence of the earthquake, and that was 

 on the night on which the first shock took place. 



I have to apologize for the unconnected manner in which 

 the above account is detailed ; but the mind cannot be quite 

 at case in the midst of so much desolation, and while the awful 

 phaenomenon that produced it is still in some degree im- 

 pending. Should any thing additional worth reporting come 

 to my knowledge, I shall immediately communicate it to the 

 Board. I have the honour to be, sir, 



Your most obedient humble servant, 



(Signed) James M'Adam, 

 Anjar, 29th June 1819. Assistant-Surgeon. 



P.S. I had no opportunity of forwarding the above letter 

 till to-day. Shocks still continue to be felt, and there was a 

 very smart one yesterday evening. The earthquake appears 



to 



