414 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 4, 



metallic substances composed probably of meteoric iron alloyed with 

 nickel and mixed with silica and magnesia or some other earthy* sub- 

 stance. They are nearly double the weight of a piece of ordinary 

 stone of similar dimensions. 



I have sent specimens of the aerolite to the Museums at 

 Lahore and Umritsur, and to a Scientific Institution in America.t 

 I am about also to send others to the Academy of Sciences in France, 

 to the Asiatic Society in Calcutta, and to Mons. H. Schlagintweit at 

 Berlin in Prussia, for examination and report. 



One fact, if true, is curious, viz., that the report preceded the 

 flash instead of following it ; this I cannot at all account for. 



Another very singular phenomenon was witnessed at Dhurm- 

 sala on the evening of the same day, that the aerolite fell ; this ap- 

 pears to have been a succession of igneous meteors such as fire balls, 

 or falling or shooting stars. This singular sight did not attract the 

 attention of most people. I quote the account from the writer who 

 describes it, verbatim. 



" I think it was on the evening of the same day that the meteor 

 fell that T observed lights in the air. They commenced to appear about 

 7 p. M., and lasted for about three hours till 10 ; they appeared for 

 about one minute, some for longer, then went out again, other lights 

 appearing in their places ; sometimes three or four lights appeared in 

 the same place, together, and one or two moved off, the others re- 

 maining stationary, they looked like fire-balloons, but appeared in 

 places where it was impossible for there to have been any houses or 

 any roads, where people could have been. Some were high up in the 

 air moving like fire-balloons, but the greater part of them were in the 

 distance, in the direction of the lower hills, in front of my house, 

 others closer to our house, and between Sir A. Lawrence's and the Bar- 

 racks. I am sure from some which I observed closely that they were 

 neither fire-balloons, lanterns, nor bonfires or any other thing of that 

 sort, but bona fide lights in the heavens. Though I made enquiries 

 amongst the natives the next day, I have never been able to find 

 out what they were or the cause of their appearance." 



* Probably chrome and cobalt too I think, R. S. 



t The Smithsonian ; also to the Museums of Munich and Vienna ; to Turin, 

 Sardinia, The British Museum, London, and to one or two other localities. 



