64 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Mar. 



E. J. E i c h a rdso n, Esq., B. C. S., Dr, J. M. C o a t e s, 

 Balm Abhayacharana M a 1 1 i k a, Dr. E. H. Curran. 



The following' letter received from Col. G. H. Saxton, through 

 Col. H. Thuillier, relating to a recent fall of an Aerolite near 

 Nidigullam (Yizagapatam district), was read : 



Camp Parvatgporc, Yizagapatam District, January 27th, 1870. 



I have just seen a very interesting specimen of an Aerolite, 

 which fell near this, last Sunday, 23rd January, 1870. I have made 

 an official application to the Madras Government, asking it to autho- 

 rize its being given over to me for the purpose of being sent to our 

 Calcutta Museum. In the mean time, I enclose a rough sketch, 

 shewing the size, shape and striated markings of it. One end is broad, 

 and quite smooth, with a polish. The whole apj^ears pure iron or 

 steel. The stride are all obliquely in the direction of its elongation, 

 and are very pretty. The length is about 6£ inches, the breadth 

 between 4 and 5, and the thickness varies considerably ; on the 

 heel or sole-like end, which is polished, the surface is broad and 

 flat, 2 or 3 inches, it then becomes thinner, but irregularly, and the 

 other end is almost sharp ; but I hope to have the pleasure of 

 sending the specimen itself. 



It penetrated about 20 inches into the ground where it fell. 

 Now for a description, from hearsay, of the circumstances at- 

 tending the fall. The local European officer who has charge of 

 it tells me, that he did not see the meteor, but he heard the noise, 

 which he likens to that caused by a house falling down. Others 

 describe the noise more as that of an explosion, with subsequent 

 prolonged rumblings. Those who saw the meteor, describe it as 

 being very large and beautiful, and as bursting with increased 

 brilliance at the time of the explosion. All agree that it passed 

 over this place from the north to south, and the village where it 

 fell is just about 6 miles almost due south from this. It is given 

 on the Atlas sheet, No. 108 at Lat. 18-41-20 and Long. 83-28-30 a s 

 "Nidigullam." At this village itself the people were greatly 

 alarmed. Some received violent shocks, and a man near to whom 

 i+ fell, was stunned. This I hear from the Sub-Magistrate who, 

 With others from this place, went to the village, and took possession 



