304 The Shalka Meteorite. [No. 4. 



at the S. W. corner of which is a tamarind tree. To the east is 

 paddy cultivation terminated by the houses of Bhorah-Dharmpur about 

 £ of a mile off. From east to S. W. is a large cultivated (rice) plain, 

 bounded by the villages on the immediate bank of the Dalkisher river, 

 which is distant from the spot 4 miles in direct line. About J of a mile 

 to the S. W. is a tank, beyond which is low jungle extending W. b. N., 

 and due W. distant 250 yards is the jungle abovementioned, and to 

 the N. of W. distant 100 yards, is another small tank, between which 

 and Shalka are paddy lands. The ground slopes downward consider- 

 ably from N. to S. A specimen of the soil in which the stone fell is 

 sent, the stone being embedded in it. At the time of the fall it (the 

 soil) was in the state of mud. I observed that the banks of tanks near 

 the spot were composed of Kanker. I conclude therefore that the 

 stratum immediately under the soil in cultivation is Ranker. 



4. On the night on which the stone fell as well as for some days 

 previous and subsequent thereto, there was nothing to be remarked in 

 the state of the weather, the temperature was seasonable, very little 

 wind and the sky clear, no clouds being visible. 



5. About 3 hours before sunrise a clap of thunder was heard, ac- 

 companied (Vide the Chowkeedar's evidence) by a flash of lightning. 

 Statements were at variance as to the nature of this noise, some persons 

 saying, it in no ways differed from ordinary thunder, others, that they 

 recognised with it, a whirling noise {gur-gur shabda. Beng.) The noise 

 does not appear to have been extraordinarily loud, as persons in the 

 village of Bhora about £ mile off were not awakened by it. 



6. The ryots on going to their fields in the morning, observed the 

 earth ploughed up, they at first thought it had been made by a bear, 

 or by some of the low castes in digging out grain from the rat-holes,* 

 but on looking further they saw fragments of the stone scattered on all 

 sides within a radius of about 20 feet, and the stone itself embedded in 

 the soil, but with no part projecting therefrom. The color was then 

 what it now is, it was cold to the touch and had no smell. The Chow- 

 keedar it is to be observed, states that after the flash he saw nothing 

 burning on the ground. The stubble and grass was not scorched nor the 

 ground dried up. As with the specimen now sent is the earth in which 

 it was embedded, the Society will be enabled to test these statements. 



* A common practice in India. 



