1845.] for the year 1843. 607 



" We noticed in our paper of the 7th instant, that a shock of an 

 Earthquake had been experienced here about half-past 12 on the morn- 

 ing of the 6th, and we observe from the " Singapore Free Press" of 

 the 12th, that a shock had been felt there precisely at the same time. 

 In both places it was very slight, but here more generally, and on the 

 hill at least, more severely felt than at Singapore. It is rather remark- 

 able that on the 8th, when we had a repetition of the Earthquake about 

 2£ p. m. the shocks on that occasion were also more distinctly felt on 

 the hills than in the valley. The oscillations were in both places of 

 very short duration, and in Penang, as far as we can learn, the direction 

 was from South to North or the contrary, but at Singapore it is stated to 

 have been from East to West. For some time preceding this subterrane- 

 ous commotion, the weather at Singapore had been unusually dry and 

 hot for the season, the atmosphere clear, and the wind from the North 

 East, and nothing indicated a change, until half an hour before the 

 shock, when the heavens became ' quite black and chilly.' Here also 

 it was preceded by the same kind of weather, which however is usual 

 with us at this season, but no sudden change or phenomenon of any 

 kind was noticed immediately to precede the shock, excepting that, as 

 we have learned, the rats in a house in town were heard to be parti- 

 cularly noisy and riotous about the roof. In both places, however, a 

 marked change followed the convulsion. At Singapore, at 7 a. m. the 

 following morning, heavy rains set in, and continued unremittingly for 

 eleven days ; and in Penang we experienced for several successive days 

 sudden gusts of wind interrupted by calms, and in the evening squalls 

 from the N. and N. E. with heavy clouds, rain and thunder in these 

 directions, no rain however fell upon the Island, excepting a short par- 

 tial shower on the 15th, and the weather has again resumed its dryness 

 and clearness. At this time not a blade of grass is to be seen, and 

 vegetation of every description is suffering excepting where water is 

 applied. 



" Shocks of Earthquakes have on several occasions been felt at Penang ; 

 within the last ten years we have had four different shocks, and with 

 the exception of the last, they have always happened during the latter 

 months of the year. The first took place in November 1833, the 

 second in August 1835, the third in September 1837, and the fourth on 

 the 6th instant, as above stated. It appears therefore that here they 

 occur periodically, and that the last interval has been more than double 



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