1851.] The Shalka Meteorite. 303 



4. What kind of ground did it fall upon (send a good specimen of 

 the soil) and describe it particularly as to rocks, or stones or alluvial or 

 arable land ? 



A specimen accompanies — no rocks or stones near ; in the middle of 

 paddy khets.* 



5. How far from any water ? 



30 yards from a small tank (about 4 cottahs in extent.) 



7. What became of the other pieces ? (If any small ones can be 

 found near the spot like it, or with a black crust, send them.) 



Carried off by persons from all parts of the country who came to 

 see the stone. 



The following official letter from Mr. Mactier to the Secretary of 

 the Society gives a summary of this evidence, and his own account of 

 the locality and impressions on the subject. 



To the Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 



From the Officiating Joint Magistrate of Zillah Bancoorah. 



Dated Bancoorah, 28th Jany. 1851. 

 Sir, — Under orders from his Honor the Deputy Governor of Ben- 

 gal, I have the honor to forward part of a meteoric stone which fell 

 early in the morning of the 30th November, 1850, corresponding with 

 16th Aghran 1257, B. S. 



2. I have the honor to forward two depositions given by persons 

 residing near the spot, one, the chowkeedar, being the only person 

 who was out of doors when the stone fell, and at the same time to add 

 the result of my own enquiries among the inhabitants of the neigh- 

 bouring villages and a description of the locality. 



3. The hole from which the stone now sent was dug, is situated 

 about eighty yards due south of the village of Shalka ; — immediately 

 surrounding the spot are paddy fields and the spot itself is on the 

 northern edge of a small paddy Met about 4 cottahs in extent. The 

 village of Shalka contains about 20 houses and huts ; 3 or 4 moderately 

 sized trees grow close to it ; beyond the village the paddy cultivation, 

 with occasional tanks, stretches to the N. for about a mile and \ 

 till it is terminated by low jungle. About 30 yards to the north- 

 east of the spot is a small tank (Beng-dhoba) about 4 cottahs in extent 



* Anglice, Rice fields. 



