Feb. 1845.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society . x x i x 



the distance from the place of observation to be about 16 to 18 miles, that would 

 place any rock or shoal that might have been thrown up, or any discoloured water, 

 about 5 to 8 miles to the north of the northern breakers off the Terribles. 



I accordingly proceeded to this spot and cruised about, carefully sounding and keep- 

 ing a good look-out from the mast-head in a circle, from Lat. 19° 27' to 19° 36', Long. 

 93° 16' to 93° 25' E. 



Not the smallest appearance of an eruption having taken place was observed in 

 this direction, nor the slightest trace of its effects ; the soundings were all regular as 

 laid down on the charts ; and having before had the coast, from the extreme point of 

 my observations up to northward, carefully surveyed, though out of the line of bear- 

 ing, I have returned in with the conclusion that no rock or shoal has been cast up by 

 the late action of the Volcano, nor have the soundings been at all affected, nor the 

 channel disturbed. 



From this up to the northward and westward, the ground has been repeatedly passed 

 over by salt brigs and vessels belonging to the Flotilla, by none of which has any 

 thing extraordinary been observed. 



M. A. C.'s Office, Kyouk Phyoo, (Signed) H. Howe, 



the 8th January, 1845. Mar. Asst. Commissioner. 



Extract from a letter from Mr. H. B. Weston, Commanding the Hon'ble Com- 

 pany's schooner " Spy," dated 11th January 1845, No. 4. 



" At6 p. m. on the 2nd instant, 1 observed a large fire S. E. by S. (being then off the 

 Asseerghur Shoal), from which was thrown up five different times large masses of 

 fire. 1 supposed it to be a volcanic eruption, and in coming down the coast sounded 

 to see if any alteration had taken place, but found none ; I went into Akyab, and 

 having got a bearing from there, proceeded in the direction, soanding, but have no 

 alteration more than a fathom, and that in steep places. 



" I also kept a look-out for burnt wood in case it might have been a vessel burnt, but 

 found none : I have enquired of the vessels boarded, and they give a similar description 

 of it ; a Chinese Junk excepted, who stated it to be a ship on fire, but had seen no 

 traces of her, though he went in the direction." 



(True copy and extract,) 

 Fort William, Mar. Supdt.'s Office, (Signed) A. Bogle, 



the 1\th January, 1845. Commissioner of Arracan. 



(True copy,) 



(Signed) Jas. Sutherland, Secy. 



(True copies,) 



Cecil Beadon, 

 Under Secy, to the Govt, of Bengal. 



It would appear from the foregoing, that there can be no doubt of the phcenomenon, 

 and extremely little probability of its having been a vessel on fire. As connected with 

 the former eruptions in that quarter, all these notices are of the greatest interest, and 

 we are fortunate in possessing there in the persons of Captain Williams and his friends, 

 such zealous observers and reporters. 



We have also received from Captain Newbold, M. N. I., a valuable paper on the 

 Geology of Southern India, which, as soon as the diagrams can be lithographed, will I 



