1843.] Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. 1051* 



" The elevation out of the sea of large tracts of land by effect of vol- 

 canic action, has in more modern times been noted as occurring on the 

 coast of Chili in South America, and in the territory of Cutch in this 

 country. In the former case, some doubt has been thrown both on the 

 fact itself, as well as its amount : and the circumstance of a similar 

 phenomenon having taken place within the memory of man, not only 

 throughout the coasts of Chedooba, but extending over all the shoals 

 and islands from the Terribles, off the North end of Ramree, to Foul 

 Island, will be held a not unwelcome addition to the evidence yet 

 gleaned of the occurrence of such extensive changes of level to the 

 present day. The above are the limits of the survey on which the 

 " Childers" was employed, over every part of which the evidences of this 

 elevation were seen, and in many places accurately measured, and it 

 includes the whole of that irregular collection of islands and shoals, 

 which, projecting far into the Bay of Bengal, yet maintains the general 

 direction of the mainland coast near it. 



" But these limits are not to be taken as those which bound the ele- 

 vation, which with little doubt, from the similarity of formation, will be 

 found to extend North, South, and East over all those parts of Arracan, 

 so peculiarly marked by the intersection of deep, narrow, salt-water 

 creeks from Akyab, even perhaps as far South as Cape Negrais. 



" The line which was under observation was about 100 miles in length, 

 varying from 20 miles in breadth to that of a mere patch, according as 

 the opportunity for notice was afforded by the existence or islets above 

 water, and its general direction is from NW. by N. to SE. by S. The 

 elevation has been greatest towards the centre of the line examined. At 

 the Terribles, about 1 3 feet ; on various parts of the N. W. reef of 

 Chedooba 22 feet; at the North point of the Island 16 feet; at the 

 centre of the Island, on the West coast, 13 feet; at the South end 12 ; 

 and at the Islands south of it, as far as Foul Island, from that to 9 feet. 



"It would also seem to have been greater on the western limit of 

 Chedooba than on the eastern ; a fact however not ascertained from 

 the extensive level plains which exist on this side, whereas on that, 

 measurements were easily made on the sides of the perpendicular 

 rocks. This elevation occurred about 90 years ago.* There is now 

 living a party, 106 years of age, who was then 15 years old, and had 

 been accustomed to fish over the now-upraised land. On the coasts of 

 Chedooba, its traces are in most parts as clear as could be wished, 

 bounding the natural jungle with a bank of greater or less height, com- 

 posed of sand or of shingle : the plain beyond being thickly strewed 

 with corals and shells, such as are now growing on the shores. The 

 natives are all perfectly aware of the bank having formerly been the 

 limit of their island, and even the youngest would point it out, if asked 

 to do so. 



* This is no doubt the great Earthquake of 1762, which, as before mentioned, ex- 

 tended all along this coast. 



