1042 Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. [No. 144. 



B. Earthquakes of the Valley of Jellalabad. 



In the Register of Earthquakes for 1842, I have stated the grounds on 

 which I consider the valley of Jellalabad to be the seat of Earthquak- 

 ing forces. It is well known that the areas over which the causes of 

 such forces (of whatever nature we may consider these) extend, is 

 frequently very great ; and that a connection may exist between the 

 forces that disturb the Cabool and Jellalabad valleys, is more than 

 probable. But, from the information as yet obtained, it is justly to 

 be inferred that these forces act independently, and I have therefore 

 placed the two valleys as distinct portions of the lateral Himalayan 

 tract. 



Our information relative to the Earthquakes of the Jellalabad valley 

 is all subsequent to the year 1842. Since the publication of the Re- 

 gister for that year, I have obtained some farther information relative 

 to the Earthquakes of this locality, which I purpose giving here. 



Earthquake of 19th February, 1842. — The following extract from 

 Lady Sale's Journal of the imprisonment, gives details of the shock as 

 experienced at the fort of Buddeabad, in the valley of Lughman : — 



" At noon I was on the top of the house, when an awful Earthquake 

 took place * * * *. For some time I balanced myself as well as I could, 

 till I felt the roof was giving way. I fortunately succeeded in remov- 

 ing from my position before the roof of our room fell in with a dread- 

 ful crash ***.***. When the earthquake first commenced in the 

 hills in the upper part of the valley, its progress was clearly defined 

 coming down the valley, and throwing up dust like the action of explod- 

 ing a mine. Our walls and gateways and corner towers, are all 

 much shaken, or actually thrown down. We had at least twenty-five 

 shocks before dark, and about fifteen more during the night, which we 

 spent in the court yard. * * * * Our fort is the best of forty that have 

 suffered in this valley, and many are entirely thrown down. In one a 

 tower fell and crushed five women and a man, others have not a wall 

 remaining.'' 



Lieut. Vincent Eyre thus describes the same event. (Military Opera- 

 tions at Cabool, p. 262.) 



" February 19th. On the 6th we had a heavy fall of rain, since 

 which the weather had become exceedingly close. This morning it 

 was observed that an unusual degreee of heat and stillness pervaded 

 the air. Whether these were premonitory symptoms of what was 

 to happen it is impossible to determine: but at 11 a. m. (?) we were 

 suddenly alarmed by a violent rocking of the earth which momentarily 

 increased to such a degree, that we could with difficulty maintain our 

 balance. Large masses of the lofty walls that encompassed us fell in 

 on all sides with a thundering crash. A loud subterraneous rumbling 

 was heard as of a boiling sea of liquid lava, and wave after wave 

 seemed to lift up the ground on which we stood, causing every build- 

 ing to rock to and fro like a floating vessel. After the scenes of 

 horror we had recently witnessed, it seemed as if the hour of retribu- 

 tion had arrived, and that heaven designed to destroy the blood-stained 



