CATALOGUE. 7 



A.I). 



16(39. June 4th,— Upper India.— In the Mir-dt-ul- Alam. (Mirror of the 



World) by Bakhtawar Khan,— MS. never printed,— it is 

 said: " A strong earthquake took place on the 14th 

 Muharram of Aurangzib 's 12th year, in the districts 

 surrounding the fort of Mandran. A chasm appeared in 

 the ground about fifty cubits long and two yards broad. 

 The inhabitants tied stones to ropes five and six hundred 

 yards long, in order to ascertain the depth. But the ropes 

 were too short, and the depth was not ascertained. After 

 four days the chasm closed without apparent cause." The 

 12th year of Aurangzib commenced on the 1st Ramazan, 

 1079, A. B., and the 1st Muharram (new year's day) 

 of this 12th year falls on the 22nd May A. D. 1669. 

 The 14th Muharram was, therefore, the 4th June 1869. 1 

 22nd. — Cashmie. — On the 3rd <?afar a very violent earthquake felt 

 all over Cashmir, lasted all night.' Madsir i' A'lamgiri. 

 23rd.— Atock— On 4th (Jafar (1080, A. H.) an earthquake ; a 

 fissure 50 yards long was formed in the ground. Madsir 

 i A'lamgiri. The 4th £afar was the 33rd day of the 

 year, and so corresponded to June 23rd. 



1684. date?— Subate.— (Surat?) in Further India.— Brit. Ass. Catal., 



1852, 96, quoting Collection. Academ. 



1720. July 15th,— Delhi.— " At this very time (viz., 22nd Ramazan, 1132, 



12—1 Noon. A. H., Friday), whilst in most mosques of the Capital, 



(Delhi) the Khutbah " (Friday prayers for the reigning 



1 The same historical MS. mentions two remarkable meteoric phenomena during 

 Aurangzib' s reign, which may he quoted here. In the month of Ramazan of the eighth year 

 of Aurangzib, a large star in the shape of a flame fell from the air into a tank near the fort of 

 Kalyanigarh, which lies in the Soobah of Dakhin. The mere fall caused the waters to over- 

 flow "the banks, the water itself remained in motion for two pahars" (tadopahar? six 

 hours) ! 



The eighth year of Aurangzib was 1075, A.H., and the Eamazan of that year commenced 

 on the 4th February and ended 5th March 1665, A.D. 



Again, it is said : " In the ninth year (of Aurangzib) a flame appeared in the Parganah 

 of Malki (Bahar). "The flame was one imperial yard long (34 inches) and one yard broad. 

 It passed along like a whirlwind for six kos, and burnt the trees, &c, which it met in its 

 course." 



The ninth year of Aurangzib — 1076, A. H. — lasted from 22nd January, 1666, A. D., to 

 10th January 1667, A. D. 



Both these events appear to have been undoubtable meteoric falls, although the de- 

 scription of the effects is decidedly highly coloured ! 



( rG9 ) 



