1032 Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. [No. 144. 



are much less frequent in the upper mountains than in the plains, and 

 I do not recollect any, except once on the way to Jumaotree, at a place 

 near the bed of the river, and not more than 8,000 feet above the level 

 of the sea." 



Colonel Hodgson, in his Survey of the Rivers Ganges and Jumna, 

 (Asiatic Researches, vol. XIV, p. 139,) under date the 13th of April, 

 1817, from Thano to Catnaur, farther remarks: — 



" After passing the worst part (of the route between the two above- 

 mentioned places,) descended toOj'ha Ghur, a hamlet of three huts only, 

 at the foot of steep and lofty cliffs, the rocks hurled from which by the 

 Earthquake of 1803, buried a small fort and village, which once stood 

 here ; dreadful mementous are seen in the mountains of that catastrophe. 

 Under Oj'ha Ghur, a stream falls into the Jumna, and several cataracts 

 are seen falling among the surrounding precipices. There are some hot 

 springs at the bed of the Jumna, which is 400 feet below the hamlet. 

 Latitude observed 30° 54' 47"." 



The city of Sreenuggur, the capital of the mountain province of 

 Gurhwal, suffered severely from the same shock. James Fraser, Esq. in 

 his Tour in the Himalayas (p. 369,) thus alludes to the circumstance : — 



" Sreenuggur, the chief town or capital of Gurhwal, is situated 

 on the South bank of the Alacnanda, about twenty miles above 

 its junction with the Bhagiruttee at Deopragur, where a strip of level 

 ground stretches along for three or four miles, forming the valley 

 known by the same name as the town. It was once comparatively 

 populous and prosperous, forming as it did, not only the residence 

 of the court, but a considerable entrepot for the produce of the various 

 countries in and on either side of the snowy mountains, which exchange 

 commodities by the Nitteemana and other Passes. 



" When Colonel Hardwicke visited this place in 1796, it was perhaps 

 not in its prime, but contained (as he computed) 700 or 800 houses and 

 a good bazar. When Messrs. Webb and Raper, in 1808, passed 

 through it on their way to Buddreenauth, it had sunk deeply in 

 importance, and was to all appearance rapidly advancing to decay. It 

 had not only to contend with the common enemies of the country, but 

 also with natural causes no less ruinous. An Earthquake had occurred 

 in 1803, which had done considerable injury: many houses were 

 ruined, and the Rajah's palace was particularly shattered ; and the en- 

 croachments of the river Alacnanda yearly destroy a portion of that 

 which yet stands, threatening in time to sap the foundations of all." 



Buddreenauth, the celebrated resort of Hindoo pilgrims, situated 

 near the sources of the Alacnanda River, one of the tributaries of the 

 Ganges, did not escape the destructive effects of the Earthquake of 

 1803. After describing the principal temple at this holy spot, Cap- 

 tains Webb and Raper continue thus : — 



" The era of its foundation is too remote to have reached us, even 

 by tradition ; but it is considered the work of some superior being. 

 This specimen of divine architecture, however, was too weak to resist 

 the shock of the Earthquake, which left it in so tottering a condition, 



