606 Register of Indian and Asiatic Earthquakes QNo. 164. 



so that in a single moment, the same spot where cattle were grazing, 

 had become the abode of fishes. 



The large Campong Mego, about one Dutch mile, South of Goenong 

 Sie Foli, was entirely washed away by the wave ; and many days after- 

 wards the dead bodies of the victims of this woeful destruction might 

 be seen on the beach. 



The same wave penetrated into the neighbourhood of Goenong Sie 

 Foli with such violence, that the prows lying in the river were thrown 

 upon the shore, 1 00 or 1 60 paces from their anchorage ; among the 

 number was the Government Cruising Schooner, No. 23. The new 

 Bazar, consisting of wooden houses, and situated on the left side of 

 the river, was also entirely washed away. The inhabitants who escaped 

 fled to the Benting, 60 or 100 feet above the sea, to implore the 

 succour of others as miserable as themselves. 



This phenomenon continued until half- past four in the morning, the 

 shock being felt at intervals of two minutes, when another earthquake 

 was experienced, which was more violent than the first one, and continued 

 for about six minutes. The shock generally came from the West, going 

 to the North, changing however directly to the South. The trembling 

 of the ground, although more slightly, was felt for several days after- 

 wards. 



The authorities here have immediately caused the necessary measures 

 to be taken, and despatched a Government vessel to give assistance to 

 the unfortunate inhabitants of the island of Nias. — D. F. S. 



Padang, 23rd March, 1843. 



Pulo Nias, the seat of the catastrophe just detailed, is a small island 

 off the West Coast of Sumatra, in about 2° N. Lat. and 98° E. Long. 

 The intensity of the Earthquake, however great in Pulo Nias, would 

 appear to have diminished much at a short distance from it, since no 

 notice of its effects on the adjoining coast of Sumatra is given, and 

 from the silence of the writer of the above account, we are led to infer 

 that the shock if felt at all at Padang, was there very slight. 



Pursuing a North Easterly direction, this same Earthquake was ex- 

 perienced at Singapore and Penang. The following extract from the 

 " Penang Gazette," details the effects of the shock at these two places. 



