1046* Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. QNo. 144 



bad, we learn that Reang hill split in two, and sunk 40 cubits : also 

 that Kachalang hill is even with the ground. 



And Bahugoo Changu, a Joom hill, rent in twain, and is sunk 30 

 cubits, and the houses of most of the inhabitants in these parts thrown 

 down. 



And a Joom hill, Chahter Patterah, split by little and little, till it is 

 almost level with the plain : and because of the opening of the hills and 

 the destruction of the trees on them, the way by which the Jooms used 

 to pass is stopped up. 



And Bajaleeah, another Joom hill, opened 30 cubits, and sinking, 

 water rose up : and Palanga Joom hill split and sunk 25 cubits. 



The design of this is to lay before you the wonderful disorders that 

 have come to pass in these regions, and which continue to happen, in so 

 much, that since the time of Adam until now, in this place no one has 

 heard of the like. 



If I should describe them with a thousand instances and relations, 

 and make mention of so many particulars, still there would not be a 

 part in ten that I could bring within the compass of writing. But 

 these few particulars I send for your Excellency's information." 



Farther details of this great catastrophe are contained in the follow- 

 ing communication from the Rev. Mr. Hirst, to the Rev. Thomas 

 Birch, Secretary to the Royal Society, read November 17, 1763. 



Calcutta, November 3, 1762. 



Reverend Sir, — To the enclosed accounts of the transit of Venus, 

 I have subjoined others of an extraordinary Earthquake felt in this 

 part of the world, which I flatter myself will not be Unacceptable to the 

 Royal Society. 



The Earthquake happened the second day of April last, was very 

 violent in the kingdom of Bengal, Arracan and Pegu ; but especially at 

 the metropolis of Arracan, where, according to the accounts of an Eng 

 lish merchant residing there, the effects have been as fatal as at Lisbon 

 and where it is thought the chief force of the Earthquake vented itself. 

 At Dacca, in this kingdom of Bengal, the consequences have been ter 

 rible ; the rise of the waters in the river was very sudden, and so violent 

 that some hundreds of large country boats were driven ashore or lost 

 and great numbers of lives lost in them. 



No less deplorable are the accounts from Chattigaon in this same 

 kingdom ; three of these accounts I herewith enclose, one of them 

 wrote by Mr. Edward Gulston, a young gentleman in the service of 

 the East India Company, and two others translated from a Persian ori- 

 ginal, made out by order of Mr. Verlst, chief of our East India Com- 

 pany's affairs in that province ; in consequence of which accounts, the 

 Company's lands there have not been so highly assessed as before this 

 calamity. Both these accounts are translated from the same original ; 

 but that which I received from Governor Vansittart, being thought 

 exaggerated from interested motives, I begged Mr. Gulston to give me 

 a literal translation from the Persian, in which language he has made 



