956 Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. [No. 156. 



it/. The diminution of intensity with increase of distance from a central 

 point is a phenomenon to be observed in all the principal earthquakes 

 recorded in these pages, and although our observations are yet too 

 imperfect to admit of our ascertaining precisely the place of maximum 

 intensity, it is indicated generally in a sufficiently distinct manner. 



Thus the valley of Jellalabad was the seat of the maximum inten- 

 sity of the earthquake of 19th February, 1842, Lady Sale men- 

 tioning that its course from east to west was distinctly indicated by 

 clouds of dust. The valley of Nepaul was also evidently the place of 

 maximum intensity of the shock of 26th August 1833. Doctor Camp- 

 bell observing that, " the valley of Nepaul though not geographically 

 the central point, is most assuredly the portion that has suffered the 

 greatest violence of the calamity." To the east and west of the valleys 

 just mentioned the force of the shock probably decreased. 



e. Had the materials collected admitted of it, I would willingly 

 have given some examples of the velocity of propagations of earthquake 

 shocks in this country, but unfortunately notices of time are so very 

 imperfect and contradictory, that no inference worthy of confidence 

 can be drawn from even the best of them. I must therefore content 

 myself with a mere allusion to the velocity as a characteristic of the 

 shock still requiring elucidation. 



I now pass on to the next series of phenomena, viz. (2), motion of 

 the ground during shocks. 



The motion of the ground during shocks is of three different kinds. 

 a. A horizontal or forward motion, illustrated by the shock of the 

 5th March, 1842, during which an observer in Saharunpore felt 

 himself, and the chair on which he was seated, impelled forward as if 

 by a force applied from behind him. Another example is given by 

 the shock of 3d April, 1810, (Part II. p. 47), in which it is stated, " the 

 girandoles and lamps were seen to swing, and even the mirrors, (such 

 as were fastened at the upper extremity with a cord), were seen to 

 vibrate towards the wall". It may be inferred from this statement 

 that the room in which these articles were suspended was moved bo- 

 dily forward, while they by their inertia were left behind, and appa- 

 rently moved towards the wall. In the account of the same shock 

 a further illustration of the forward movement is given in the case of 

 a person in the Lower Orphan School at Howrah, whose couch was 



