1843.] Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. 1043 



earth at one fell swoop. The dwelling in which we lodged was ter- 

 ribly shaken, and the room inhabited by Lady Sale fell in, her lady- 

 ship, who happened to be standing on the roof, having barely time to 

 escape. Most providentially all the ladies with their children made a 

 timely rush into the open air at the commencement of the Earthquake, 

 and entirely escaped injury. General Elphinstone being bed-ridden, 

 was for several moments in a precarious position, from which he was 

 rescued by the intrepidity of his servant, Moore, a private of H. M. 44th, 

 who rushed into his room, and carried him forth in his arms. *****. 

 The quaking continued for several minutes with unabated violence, and 

 a slight tremor of the earth was perceptible throughout the remainder 

 of the day. The Affghans were for the time-being overwhelmed with 

 terror : for though slight shocks of Earthquake are of common occur- 

 rence in every year during the cold season, none so fearful as this had 

 visited the country within the memory of the present generation. We 

 shortly learned that our fort had been singularly favoured ; almost every 

 other in the valley having been laid low, and many inhabitants destroy- 

 ed in the ruins. The town of Turghurree especially seems to have 

 suffered severely, scarcely a house being left standing, and hundreds 

 of people having been killed in the fall. 



" Shocks of Earthquakes continued to occur every hour : some of 

 which were rather severe." 



Lady Sale records farther shocks on the following days :— 



22nd February. — We had Earthquakes day and night ; less severe 

 but equally frequent. ****** 



23rd February. — This has been a very close and gloomy day : Earth- 

 quakes frequent, and some very sharp ones. 



24th February. — Very few shocks and those gentle ones ; but all last 

 night and great part of to-day, particularly late in the evening, there 

 was a tremulous motion as if a ship had been heavily struck by a sea, 

 generally feeling as if on the larboard quarter, and accompanied by a 

 sound of water breaking against a vessel. At other times we have just 

 the undulatory motion of a snake in the water : but the most uncom- 

 mon sensation we have experienced has been that of a heavy ball 

 rolling over our heads, as if on the roof of our individual room, ac- 

 companied by the sound of distant thunder. 



Lieut. Eyre's narrative furnishes me with materials for continuing the 

 list of shocks. 



March 3 — -Under this date Lieut. Eyre remarks, that severe shocks 

 of Earthquake continued every day. 



April 20. — There was a severe shock of an Earthquake again to-day. 

 These shocks have always appeared to me to be in some way connected 

 with heavy rain before-hand. 



June 4. — A shock of an Earthquake felt to-day. 



June 10. — A smart shock of Earthquake felt during the night. 



June 29. — A shock of Earthquake. 



Unfortunately no detailed Register of the numerous Earthquakes ex- 

 perienced at Jellalabad during the same time as the preceding has, to 



