1842.] Notes on the Recent Earthquakes. 243 



phenomenon is a very common accompaniment of a severe Earthquake, 

 and by the extent to which it occasionally reaches, has proved one of 

 the most fatal causes of destruction to life and property. The details 

 of the effect of the Earthquake at Jellalabad are very brief and imper- 

 fect; this is, however, simply what might have been anticipated from 

 the circumstances under which the gallant force now there are placed, 

 but we shall probably at a future time obtain information of a more 

 definite and satisfactory character. Three bastions, with, I presume, 

 their connecting curtains, are said to have been levelled with the 

 ground, and a painful interest is attached to this particular effect of 

 the shock, from its having thrown open the defences of the small but 

 resolute body of troops then occupying the city, and exposing them to 

 an assault from the Affghans, at a time when they must necessarily 

 have had much internal confusion to contend against. In darker times, 

 superstition would have tended to unnerve still more our brave friends, 

 but on this occasion their courage appears to have risen even above the 

 level of their difficulties, and brilliant success in repelling the assault 

 was no more than the well-merited reward of their devotedness and 

 energy. 



From Jellalabad the shock affecting a portion of the Suffied Koh 

 range of mountains, with the numerous subordinate ranges that diverge 

 from these, reached Peshawur. From the circumstance of General 

 Pollock's force being encamped at Kawulsur, about eight miles from 

 Peshawur, and the communication being uninterrupted, our details are 

 much fuller, and more satisfactory, than would otherwise have been the 

 case. 



The following extracts from letters published in the Delhi Gazette, 

 give the most perfect account of the different effects of the Earthquake 

 that I have been able to find, although it is much to be regretted, that 

 on the most important point, that namely, of the exact time of the 

 occurrence of the shock, much discrepancy exists. 



Extract from a Letter, dated Kawulsur, 20th February, 1842. 



" Yesterday a fearful Earthquake visited this part of the world. The 

 shock, which came on between 10 and 11 o'clock was long continued, 

 and men, horses, tents, even the ground under us, and the hills in the 



