266 Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. [No. 136. 



years. The earth literally trembled like an aspen leaf, and rocked to 

 and fro as an infant's cradle, or like a ship at sea. Many of the camels 

 that were carrying the baggage of the troops to Col. Wild's camp were 

 thrown down, and so great was the shock, which lasted fully five 

 minutes, that I was obliged to support myself by holding on to the 

 camp furniture, and many of the officers fancied themselves suddenly 

 taken ill. I expected every moment to have seen the earth open and 

 swallow us up, and it is only by God's great and merciful providence 

 that we have escaped through such an awful convulsion of nature. 



" Every one complains of nausea. We have just been observing im- 

 mense volumes of dust, that completely darken the atmosphere in the 

 direction of the old ricketty town of Peshawur, which is supposed to 

 be nearly levelled with the ground, as the houses are but weakly 

 built, being merely propped up by the beams of wood which may 

 be observed placed in different spots under large walls and corners of 

 the houses, and are even dangerous to passers-by at all times. I 

 doubt not but to-morrow's dawn will bring us dreadful intelligence, and 

 produce a fearful account of lives lost. — 20th February. Reports say, 

 that only from 40 to 50 persons at Peshawur were crushed and killed 

 among ruins of the falling houses. General Avitabili's large dwelling 

 house, which had recently been built, and was being finished, fell in, 

 but luckily did no injury to any one in the house." 



The period of the shock at Peshawur was llh. 41m. 12s. Jellalabad 

 time, the observed time at the former place being llh. 46m. and the 

 difference of longitude 4m. 48s.* 



The course of the Earthquake hitherto has been through a tract of 

 country rugged and mountainous in the extreme. The geology of the 

 district extending from Cabool to Peshawur has never been satisfac- 

 torily described, and very little, I might indeed say nothing, whatever 

 is yet known about it. Dr. Lord gives the following general remarks 

 on the great features of the country, and some of the points alluded to 

 by him, as indicating severe disruptive action, are interesting in con- 



* Captain Lawrence, late Political Agent at Peshawur, assures me, he feels quite 

 certain as to the period of the Earthquake at that place ; he having been led to watch 

 the time narrowly, in consequence of a meeting between General Pollock and Rajah 

 Pertaub Sing being to take place at noon exactly, arrangements for which were in pro- 

 gress under his superintendence. 



