1843.] Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. ■ 287 



others observed a distinct direction of the shock ; however, people 

 are not all agreed as to what this exactly was. Probably the form of 

 different masses of building, such as our houses in Calcutta, might 

 occasion some little difference in the effects of the Earthquake on 

 the sensations of different persons." 



A remarkable luminous appearance of the water in the river, as 

 observed on board the ship Southampton, is thus described by a cor- 

 respondent of the Englishman of November 14th. 



" Several gentlemen had just before the time been conversing upon 

 the poop, when one pointed out the very singular luminous appearance 

 of a portion of the river water : its Southern limit setting from N. W. 

 towards Chaudpaul Ghaut. It was thought at first to be merely the 

 first ebb of the tide setting down, or from the reflection of the moon, 

 but it proved in the sequel not to be the first, and the moon was just 

 then densely obscured by clouds, proving that also not to be the cause. 

 On this brightness closing upon the ship, a general and severe tremor 

 was felt throughout, as if a taut chain cable was grinding under the keel, 

 or that a sudden squall had struck the ship. The Barometer had 

 slightly fallen previous to this, whether from the preceding rain or caus- 

 ed by the Earthquake it is for others more capable to judge : I am 

 inclined to think from the latter. From enquiries amongst several 

 commanders, it appears, that amongst the northermost ships it was 

 more severely felt, even to the shaking of the chain cables and cabin 

 furniture. 



" At Howrah also, we find the shock was violent in the extreme. We 

 may therefore infer that the direction of the Earthquake must have 

 been from N. W. to S. E." 



It is stated by a correspondent of the Englishman of the 14th Nov., 

 the night of the 11th was particularly close and oppressive in Calcutta. 

 The meteorological registers kept at the Surveyor General's Office and 

 the Honorable Company's Dispensary, present nothing remarkable far- 

 ther than that rain fell on the evening of the 11th to the amount in 

 the lower gauge of 0.14, and in the upper of 0.19 inches, none having 

 fallen for sometime before. 



The effects of the Earthquake at Serampore, about fourteen miles 

 above Calcutta, (lat. 22 3 45' N. long. 88° 26' E.) are described in the 

 following extracts : — 



