1844.] Fall of a Meteoric Stone in Khaundes. 881 



specimens of the supposed Aerolite. These accompany my letter. 

 They differ so much from the structure of every reputed Aerolite 

 I have previously met with, that I should be inclined to doubt the 

 veracity of the reporters, could I discover any other reason for ques- 

 tioning it. I have never heard any other instance of an Aerolite in 

 that neighbourhood. The fact is implicitly credited in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Eidulabad, where it is said to have occurred. These 

 specimens appear to me to resemble masses of friable rock of the quartz 

 family, which I have met with in Malwa. But it is evident that 

 a mass of texture so loose could never have borne unshattered, the 

 propelling agency of fire, nor has any volcano existed within the me- 

 mory of man in Nimaur or Mahiswah, nor I believe in Khaundes, al- 

 though fable declares Oojyne to have been buried beneath a shower of 

 mud, and Mahiswah to have been destroyed by the mischievous ma- 

 lice of a demon. The depositions of the observers I have translated 

 and appended. The spot was beyond my district, or I would my- 

 self have visited it. It is probable that the collector of Khaundes 

 may have reported it to the Bombay Society. 



This report, and the note upon granite in the Nurbudda, were pre- 

 pared many months ago, but restricted leisure, and many concurring 

 events, prevented their being forwarded. 



J. Abbott, Capt. Arty. 



Fall of a Meteoric Stone in Khaundes. 



Deposition taken by a Karkoon, despatched from Asseer by Capt. 

 James Abbott, to collect information upon the subject. 



Oonkar, Puttail, and Ghubbahjee, Chowdry, of village Maniegaon, 

 purgunnah Eidulabad, Tuppeh Sowdah, Ulaquh Dhooliah in Khaun- 

 des, depose as follows. 



Taken July 26th 1844. 



On Mittee Asarr, Soodie Teej, Goraur ke din. 



We were in our house. At 3| o'clock p. m., whether from heaven 

 or elsewhere, a prodigious ball (ghybee golah) fell. The noise it 

 made was very great, it might be heard twenty miles round. We 

 heard it with our own ears, and in fear and trembling ran outside to 

 look, so running out, wc found that it had fallen outside the village 



