llO Lt.-Col. J. Waterhonse — On the Barisdl G^tns. [March, 



from Chittagong along the coast of Arracaa and Akyab. The occur- 

 rence of similar sounds at Cherrapiinji, as recorded by Mr. Medlicott, 

 would appear more probably connected with volcanic or seismic agency 

 than with any water-borne sounds. 



That they are commonly produced by volcanic or seismic causes 

 seems improbable, because these would be accompanied by movements of 

 the earth, which could not escape observation, and none of the ob- 

 servers have noted anything of the kind. 



It only remains to consider the possible connection of the sounds 

 with atmospheric electricity and the thunder-storms especially prevalent 

 in Eastern Bengal at the changes of the seasons and during the S. W. 

 monsoon. Distant thunder frequently sounds exactly like the firing of 

 heavy guns far away, and in the case of such sounds being heard shortly 

 before or after a thunderstorm or when thunder clouds were in the 

 neighbourhood, their connection with the thunder would seem obvious 

 unless otherwise accounted for. Such sounds would excite no special 

 attention and might be heard all over the world. It is important, there- 

 fore to note that none of the persons who have observed the phenome- 

 non have attributed it directly to thunder, and very few have connected 

 it in any way with electrical action. Nothing, moreover, is recorded 

 indicating any special meteorological or physical conditions obtaining 

 in the Delta which would cause distant thunder to be heard in any 

 very peculiar and unusual manner. 



Capt. Stewart mentions that his Assistant, Mr. N. T. Davey, who 

 had taken a good deal of interest in the question, had heard them in 

 district Hughli and also at Faridpur from the southward, generally when 

 the atmosphere was overloaded with electricity preceding thunder- 

 storms. Mr. Davey attributed the sounds to electrical action in an 

 atmosphere surcharged with moisture, as would be the case along the 

 coast. At Faridpur they are heard from over the enormous hJiils in the 

 neighbourhood, which may also explain their being heard at Barisal 

 and other places. 



Mr. Sarr and Mr. Rainey both report the occurrence of the sounds 

 near Jessore in very close weather after heavy falls of rain or squalls, 

 but say nothing about thunder. 



I have been unable to find any reference to the theory that the 

 sounds are caused by the bursting of bamboos in the jungles in any of 

 th.e papers on the subject to which I have had time to refer. This 

 cause would not, however, be peculiar to the Gangetic Delta, as the 

 Barisal guns seem to be, and certainly cannot be the principal cause 

 of the sounds. The same remark applies to the falling of trees. 



In the present very imperfect state of our knowledge regarding this 



