244 Proceeding* of the Asiatic Society. [August, 



S. W. monsoon and rainy season, of certain peculiar noises from the 

 south and south-east directions, or seaboard, resembling the report 

 of cannons or loud explosions, usually heard distinctly after a heavy 

 fall of rain, or cessation of a squall, generally whilst the tide is rising, 

 and to solicit your being good enough to investigate this physical 

 phenomenon, with the view of discovering the cause thereof, as 

 there most decidedly exists a profound ignorance on the subject by 

 the public at large, and more particularly as it may prove of some 

 interest to scientific research." 



" In the Englishman Newspaper, a correspondent under the 

 signature of Barisal, has lately noticed these singular noises, as you 

 may have casually observed, with the avowed intention of obtain- 

 ing an authoritative explanation of it ; but judging from the futile 

 effects of numerous previous similar attempts, I do not think, he is 

 likely to meet with better success, which is my only apology 

 for troubling you on the subject, though it may be hardly needed, 

 as I venture to think, you will be sufficiently interested in the en- 

 quiry, to enter into it con amore." * * * 



In inviting discussion, the President remarked that the subject 

 was not quite new to the Society. It was brought forward several 

 years ago, and a paper upon it was to be found in a volume of the 

 Journal to which his memory did not at the moment enable him to 

 refer. The better opinion at that time appeared to be, that the 

 sounds were attributable to breakers on the sea coast. Phenome- 

 na of a similar kind, undoubtedly due to this cause, were met 

 with elsewhere. In Devonshire and Cornwall, along the northern 

 face of which at times a very heavy swell rolls in from the Atlantic, 

 the booming of the surf is heard at considerable distances. 



Mr. Westland said : — 



" As to the actual occurrence of these unexplained sounds, there 

 can be no doubt ; they have been heard by very many persons and 

 are perfectly well-known in those parts of country where they are 

 heard. I have myself heard them, or at least have heard sounds 

 agreeing in description with these " Barisal guns," to which I could 

 not assign any known cause. About March 1865, a paper was road 

 before the Society, by Babu Gour Das Bysack, in which he referred 



