1/2 Miscellaneous. [Feb. 



was obliged to break a small chip off to get a fresh fracture, so as to be 

 certain of the internal structure. 



In collections better furnished than ours it may be hoped that better 

 specimens to elucidate this curious question may be found. 



Earthquakes in Assam. Communicated by Major Jenkins, Agent to 

 the Governor General. 



January 22nd, 1849. — Yesterday morning about a quarter past 8, 

 we felt so severe a shock of an earthquake at Gowhatti, that it may be 

 worth recording. After a very long interval, during which we have been 

 entirely free from earthquakes, or only had a few slight tremblings, this 

 occurred during a very thick fog which lasted until 1 1 o'clock ; the wea- 

 ther for some time before had been cold and cloudy with N. E. winds, 

 and on the 18th we had rain with a strong N. E. wind nearly all day. 

 Some days before there had been heavy falls of snow on the second 

 ranges of Bootan mountains, more I think than ever I recollect seeing 

 in this neighbourhood. 



When this earthquake occurred I was in my pinnance, preparing 

 for embarkation, and the boat shook so violently that I thought some 

 one was jumping on the gang-board, and when I went up to my house 

 I found some of the ceiling of one room and the cornices of others had 

 been much shaken. All who were in houses at the time describe the 

 shock as one of the severest we ever had, and the rumbling as extra- 

 ordinary loud. 



Jagee, Assam, January 26th. — Your note of the 23rd has just reached 

 me, noticing a violent earthquake at Gowhatty on the 22d, at about 

 8^ a. m. On the same day and about the same time I was at Ruha in 

 a Naumghur, when we felt a very severe earthquake ; it lasted at least a 

 minute, and the ground moved greatly, the trees also shook violently. 

 It was also I hear felt at Nowgong, but I have not heard that any build- 

 ings were damaged. On the 23rd, at 9 p. m. I felt another strong shock 

 of an earthquake at Jagee ; at the same place on the 26th, at about 5 

 a. m., just as I was getting up (it was not light) I heard a rumbling 

 noise like the movement of heavy guns, and the earth moved but not 

 so violently as on the 22nd and 23rd, or so long. On the 17th, I 



