3032* Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. [No. 144. 



The extreme eastern limit of the Earthquake of 1819, appears to 

 have been Poonah, where its force was only very feebly experienced. 

 The tract affected therefore extends, so far as existing information 

 shows, from about the meridian of 69° to that of 74° East longitude, 

 and from about 18° to 24° North latitude. These limits are, how- 

 ever, by no means well ascertained, especially to the westward of 

 Cutch, and also to the northward ; our information from both of these 

 directions being deficient. 



22nd. — Thermometer at 2 p. m. 88°; wind West. Weather changed to a gloomy, 

 cloudy appearance, with indications of rain. Less tremor of the earth, but a conscious- 

 ness that I am rather in a long rocking motion than standing firm; when I walk 1 do 

 not think I go strait. The same unpleasant sensation as on the 18th, though in a less 

 degree : from this and the change in the weather, entertain hopes that the tremors are 

 ceasing, and that we shall soon be quit of our alarms and unpleasant feelings. 



23rd. — Thermometer at 2 p. m. 82°; wind S. S. W. Our first rains set in strongly 

 at 12 last night, with the change of the moon : there were three tremors of the earth, but 

 to-day our personal disagreeable sensations have abated, and we trust and hope that 

 with the change of season, all physical effects of the Earthquake are leaving us for 

 ever. 



24th. — Thermometer at 2 p. M. 82°; wind high S. S. W. Rough monsoon weather ; 

 much rain. Notwithstanding our hopes of yesterday, we were again alarmed last 

 night between 12 and 1 o'clock, not by a tremor but by a shock, which awakening us, 

 caused us to jump out of our beds and run into the open air, where we remained an 

 hour. The shock lasted about two seconds. Immediately after it, observed a long 

 narrow black cloud, running west and east, or quite the reverse way to what I am 

 accustomed to see a line of cloud extend : it appeared stationary for half an hour, 

 during which period there were constant tremors in the earth. Some houses in the 

 town were thrown down. Our knees ached for half an hour after the shock: but on 

 the whole we are much relieved from the disagreeable sensations of lassitude, giddiness 

 and faintishness which we have constantly experienced since the great shock of the 

 16th. I attribute the sickish feel to the rocking motion we were constantly subject to. 

 We were confident that the earth was in a long rocking or rolling motion, though we 

 could not observe it. 



2bth. — Thermometer at 2 P. M. 82°; wind light at S. S. W. no rain. There was 

 neither shock nor tremor last night. I never experienced so charming a star-light 

 night. 1 was up at 12, expecting a shock, and found the heavens so clear, and the stars 

 so numerous and bright, that I was inclined to imagine, the Earthquake had swppt the 

 atmosphere of all its impurities. At present we are quite free from our late unpleasant 

 feelings, and as the springs will be over to-day, so do I trust will all future shocks and 

 tremors of the earth. At 2 p. M. heard at a considerable distance, in an easterly direc- 

 tion, about eight distinct sounds, like the discbarge of cannon. I expect to hear of the 

 bursting of one or more volcanoes in that direction. This being the end of the springs, 

 though I know not that they influence Earthquakes, yet I think it probable they do, 

 and hence imagine that the disorder in the bowels of the Earth, arriving with the 

 springs, at a crisis, will cease with the discharge it has found for its foul air, and that 

 now, you as well as ourselves, will be left at rest and hear no more of Earthquakes. 



But a remark or two before 1 bid adieu. Certainly the commencement of the late 

 phenomena had no connection with the springs, neither has that of a fever in the 

 human frame, yet its crisis is always affected and frequently determined by them (?). 

 1 allude to the effects of the springs on fevers, beneath the tropic in particular, where 

 the sameness of the atmosphere, causes them to act with greater influence on all 

 physical matter than beneath more variable latitudes. The late phenomena has 

 brought to my recollection, my having observed to an Officer of the Marine about the 

 beginning of March last, that "there was a cloud in the North-east, which ap- 

 peared uncommonly charged with electric matter." Its direction was nearly opposite 

 to the one from which I heard the sound that preceded the great shock of the 16th. I 

 have observed that previous to the approach of the S. W. monsoon, the electric clouds 

 first appear in the N. E. on the opposite direction to that of the monsoon. Earth- 

 quakes are said almost always to be preceded by great droughts, but not so with that of 

 the 16th. It was preceded by the usual hot. season, but not by any uncommon drought. 

 You will recollect, that in 1812 we had an uncommon drought in this country, so that 

 many thousand of the inhabitants died for want of food, and the cattle for grass; but it 



was 



