1843.] Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. 261 



pression. The Jellalabad Earthquake therefore comes first in order, 

 in the year 1842. 



In tracing the progress of this Earthquake, I purpose commencing at 

 its most westerly limit, and following it to the Eastward. According 

 to this plan, the first place where its effects are to be noticed is Cabool, 

 (lat. 34° 30' 30" ; long. 69° 7' E.) The intelligence from Cabool is, 

 however, extremely limited, being confined to the following short ex- 

 tract from a narrative of the events of the captivity at that city, by Dr. 

 Berwick and his party of sick and wounded, left behind, when the 

 British force attempted to retreat to Jellalabad, 



" On the 19th of February," it is remarked, " they were visited by 

 a most awful Earthquake. It continued for some minutes, and rocked 

 the fort in a frightful manner. All the men able to move rushed out 

 into the open air, every moment expecting the walls to fall in and 

 bury them ; but God was good, and after three minutes' duration, each 

 shock succeeding the other in rapid succession, it ceased. The walls 

 were dreadfully shaken, especially the side wall of the European ward, 

 which came down a few days afterwards." From the effect of the 

 shock, as detailed in this extract, it may safely be inferred, that Cabooi 

 did not form its extreme westerly limit, but we have no authentic in- 

 telligence of its progress beyond that place, and its would therefore be 

 vain to speculate upon the point. 



Proceeding Eastward over a tract of country more rugged and in- 

 hospitable than can well be conceived, and descending from a height 

 of about 7,000 to a little more than 2,000 above the level of the sea, 

 we enter the valley of Jellalabad, where the devastating effects of the 

 Earthquake were exhibited on a larger scale than at any other place. 

 The whole line of the Cabool river from Cabool to Jellalabad, experi- 

 enced, however, the effects of the shock, and many of the forts of the 

 chiefs were laid in ruins, or seriously injured. Among others, that of 

 Budiabad, in which the English prisoners were then confined was, I 

 am informed, much shaken, although not destroyed. 



The valley of Jellalabad is thus briefly described by Lieut. Wood 

 of the Indian Navy : — " A ridge of hills called Deh Koh, or the black 

 mountain, rises about Jugdulluck and running East by North till it meets 

 the Cabool river, bounds the plain of Jellalabad on the North ; to the 

 South it has the high hill of Nungnihar ; East it has the hills of Alee 



