cxviii Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Nov. 1845. 



H. Piddington, Esq. Calcutta. 



My dear Sir,— I fear you will think me troubling you more about these Cochin lime- 

 stone deposit than they deserve. I am now sending- you by the Brig Fortitude two more 

 boxes of specimens. I shall now have furnished you with sufficient samples, and will not 

 trouble you again. 



I have sent you some very small specimens by post, and a small box will reach you via 

 Madras probably by the next steamer. 



I shall feel greatly obliged by any remarks on them you may be so good as to favor 

 me with. 



W. CULLEN. 



Cochin, 1th August, 1845. 



We have several notices of earthquakes, and I had indeed proposed, but was prevented 

 by illness, to collect all those which appeared in the newspapers for publication. 



The following are however of so much interest that they should not be passed over. 

 Extract from a letter from Lieut. Blagrave, dated Kurrachee, 16ih October. 

 " Native letters have been received from Sinkpul, the frontier town of Kutch Booj, sta- 

 ting, that two shocks of an Earthquake were felt there on the 19th of June, and that on 

 the 25th fifteen distinct shocks were felt ; no mention is made of any loss having been 

 sustained. Rain had not fallen up to the 27 ultimo ; this is an extract from the Kurrachee 

 Gazette. I have since heard that an immense body of water has been forced for many 

 miles in all directions over the Runn, and that the old tower of Sindree Fort has been 

 nearly destroyed by it. I shall try and get leave to visit it, and will if I go send you any 

 thing that I may find there." 



The next notice is from our active member Capt. Hannay, Upper Assam. 



H. Piddington, Esq. 

 My dear Sir, — You will no doubt have several notices of the late earthquake in the 

 Assam valley, and I have now the pleasure to send you my notes on it. 



" Debrooghur, 26th July, at 8 minutes past 2 p. m. rather a severe shock of an earth- 

 quake the motion a trembling, with distinct jerks towards the end of the shock, which 

 lasted about a minute. 



" This shock was accompanied by a loud rumbling noise which was heard, and the 

 advance of the rocking motion almost perceptible at one end of the Bungalow before it 

 was felt throughout the house, so that the approach of the shock was (apparently) gra- 

 dual, and it was neither violent nor sudden. The direction appeared to be from west 

 to east but more likely S. W. to N. E. the direction of the valley." 



For some days previous there had been heavy rain — on the evening of the 25th about 

 8 p. m. a brilliant meteor passed from south to north on the Heavens, and burst behind 

 a cloud. The sky that evening had a singular appearance ; although cloudy, the moon 

 seemed to stand out beyond them — unusually hot weather succeeded this earthquake 

 when heavy rain fell »bout the beginning of August, after which succeeded some days of 

 hot and oppressive weather. On ihe evening of the 4th instant we had heavy clouds and 

 lightning in the S.W. which cleared off. On the evening of the 5th there was the same 

 appearance, the clouds being heavier with lighting all round the horizon ; and early on the 

 morning of the 6th we had a heavy.storm of wind from south and S. W., the sky during 

 this day was cloudy and the air comparatively cool. Between 11 and 12 p. m. we had a 

 slight shock of an earthquake, and towards the morning of the 7th a heavy S. Wester with 



