382 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [March, 



Report of the Curator, Museum of Economic Geology, December to 



February. 



I have received, through the Secretary to the Superintendent of 

 Marine, the following very curious account of a phenomenon seen at 

 sea. It were to be wished that we had many more such observers as 

 the intelligent young officer who has given us this interesting note, for 

 there is no doubt that these appearances are either indications of some 

 extensive action going on, volcanic or electric, or of remarkable abun- 

 dance of luminous animalculse, and of which, if any of the water has 

 been preserved, we may obtain some indices by chemical examination. 

 1 have written to Mr. Pearson and to Captain Biden, Master Attendant 

 of Madras, requesting both to use their best endeavours to obtain for 

 us specimens of the water, for I should suppose it impossible that some 

 has not been preserved, since the ship must have carried a Surgeon who 

 certainly should have done this. 



No. 2310. 



TO H. PlDDINGTON, Esq. 



Sir, — I have the honour by direction of the Offg. Superintendent of Marine, to 

 forward for your information, the accompanying copy of a letter from Mr. George 

 F. Pearson, Cadet of Infantry, Madras Presidency, dated the 27th ultimo, and of my 

 reply thereto dated yesterday. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your most obedient Servant, 



Jas. Sutherland, 

 Fort William, Secretary. 



Marine Supdt.'s Office, llth June, 1846. 



Ship Hashemy, May 2lst, 1846. 



My dear Sir,— In Lat. 37° 42' South, Long. 28° 48' East, being on board the 

 barque Hashemy bound from London to Madras, we fell in with the following pheno- 

 menon in the sea, which perhaps may prove of some interest to you. 



On the 17th of April in the above Lat. and Long, about 9 brs. 45 min. (civil 

 time) p. m. the surface of the sea became covered with what appeared to be a thick 

 foam of a sparkling white appearance. This continued, being at intervals more or 

 less bright and sparkling till near midnight. It seemed to exist in large patches 

 over the sea, and when the appearance was at its height the passage of the vessel 

 through the water could be compared to nothing else than if it were being borne 

 through beds of driven snow. 



