Br. C. Davimi—Byiti^h Earthquakes, 1893-99. 169 



Wherever the earthquake was observed the sound was a far more 

 prominent feature than the shock. The movement, when felt, was 

 merely a faint vibration in the middle of the rumbling noise. In 

 a few places it made glasses and crockery jingle slightly. 



Fig. 4.— Paitland Earthquake: Jan. 28, 1898. 



With the exception of one village, in wliicb the omission is 

 probably accidental, the sound was heard at every place where 

 the earthquake was observed. Its gradual rise and fall in intensity 

 are perhaps responsible for the frequent references to the passing of 

 a heavy carrier's van, a train rushing over a long iron bridge, or 

 heavy barrels rolled on pavement underneath the house. The 

 sound is also compared to thunder or the continued tipping of 

 a cartload of bricks. Every one of the ordinary types of earthquake 

 sound is, however, employed, reference being made to passing 

 waggons in 40 per cent, of the records, to thunder in 34 per cent., 

 wind in 3, the tipping of a load of stones in 11, the fall of a heavy 

 body in 3, explosions in 3, and to miscellaneous sounds in 6 per cent. 

 The average duration of the sound appears to have been about 5 

 or 10 seconds ; that it was not inconsiderable is evident from the 

 frequent use of the longer types of comparison. 



Origin of the Earthquake. — It is difficult to locate the originating 

 fault with precision. Its general direction would appear to be about 

 N.N.W. and S.S.E. The overlapping of the sound-area towards 

 the east indicates that the fault hades to the west, as the sound- 

 vibrations in the protruding part would come chiefly from the 



