1116 Asiatic Society. [No. 144. 



To H. Torrens, Esq. Secretary to the Asiatic Society. 



Sir, — I have the honor to state, that the Hon'ble Company's Steamer Ganges, after 

 having taken on board the Soogrees of Cheduba and Flat Island, arrived off False 

 Island on the 20th of November, when 1 took with me the natives of both Islands, who 

 pointed out to me where the Volcanic Island was. I have examined and surveyed the 

 spot, and find it was situated on a continuation of the Reef extending to the South- 

 ward from False Island, which is only a sand bank surrounded with rocks, with a few 

 small shrubs on it. Where the Island was, there is now from two and a half to three 

 fathoms water, with the bottom so rocky, that 1 could not succeed in getting any 

 of it up. 



The following is an account of the appearance of the Volcanic Island, by the natives 

 of Cheduba and Flat Island, which occurred on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th of July, 

 1843 :— 



" About our morning meal, or seven or eight o'clock, on the morning of the first day, 

 we heard a great noise, and saw fire rising out of the sea, which continued for four 

 days; on the second day we saw a small Island newly formed in the sea, between 

 " Flat Rock" and " Round Rock," (names will be seen in the chart,) about the size 

 of the sand bank called False Island. 



"We saw the newly-formed Island for a month, but could not approach it on ac- 

 count of the boisterous sea on the coast. We felt an earthquake before we saw the 

 fire in the sea; in the month of October we came out in our boats, to look for the 

 Island, but saw nothing. The rocks, as they now lay, are of the same number and posi- 

 tion as before the appearance of the new Island. 



" We did not feel the earthquake felt at Ramree on the 30th of October last, it was 

 felt on Cheduba Island by some of the natives." 



I am sorry 1 could not procure you specimens of the bottom where the Island was, 

 as it was hard rock. 1 was unable to do so, on account of the depth of water, 



I have the pleasure of forwarding you a specimen of Copper Ore from Round Island, 

 found by Captain Williams while I was at False Island, and another of Iron I believe, 

 picked up on Round Island by one of the natives; these were the only ones procured 

 on that Island. 



I also send specimens of the Rocks, &c. of Flat Island, and the mud thrown out from 

 the Volcano at the same place. 



Also a specimen of Iron Ore from False Island, and the different rocks and mud, 

 formed stone there, which appears to me to have been the same sort of mud petrified, 

 as 1 send specimens of, thrown up from the Volcano on Flat Island. 



There are also specimens of Treble Rock to the Southward of where the Volcanic Is- 

 land was, as you will observe in my chart, forwarded to the Superintendent of Marine. 



I also send a specimen of Iron Ore thrown up from a Volcano, about five miles to 

 the Southward of Kyouk Phyoo, on Ramree Island. I regret that I had not further 

 opportunities of gathering specimens, which the shortness of my stay prevented, on ac- 

 count of the Island having disappeared. I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Calcutta, 1st December, 1843. Your obedient servant, 



J. Russell, 

 Commander of the H, C. Steamer Ganges. 



