1869.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 93 



or heaving, without any jarring motion ; it was, however, impossible to 

 tell without the aid of an instrument when the motion ceased, but all, 

 save tremor, had disappeared in about 2 J minutes. Yet there was cer- 

 tainly instability in the ground nearly the whole of the interval, 10 mi- 

 nutes, between this and the second well-defined shock. The hori- 

 zontal undulating motion, was decidedly combined with another 

 force, a kind of jerking from side to side ; the surface not only rose and 

 fell, but its parts seemed to shift about each in segments. The position 

 of our camp here is on the principal northern spur thrown off by the 

 well known and conspicuous peak of Mahadeo, 5,751 feet; this is 

 on the line of the North Cachar Hills as well as on the principal 

 line of elevation ; the whole mass being here tilted up and dipping 

 over southward some 40° — 50°. In fact Assaloo lies on the northern 

 flexure of the great uniclinal that runs thence towards the west, 

 marked conspicuously by the Jatinga and Kayeng valleys, and 

 ultimately with the same great feature at the base of the Cherra Poonjee 

 Hills and into the Garo Hills. It marks the great bend and 

 break in the stratified rocks, when this mountain system was first 

 upheaved. The North face of Mahadeo peak, clothed with ma- 

 gnificent forest growth, presented during the earthquake a strange 

 wild sight, it appeared as if swept by a mighty wind, and the 

 large trees in the foreground were seen swaying with the passing 

 waves, from side to side, with great violence ; one large one came 

 down with a crash, and another the roots of which had been much 

 loosened fell the next day. There was a confused din from the 

 ground below, mingled with the noise caused by the surging of 

 the trees, this last sound I heard above that in the camp. Most indivi- 

 duals sat down, and it was with the greatest difficulty, that I and one 

 or two others, who remained standing, could keep on our legs. 

 The scene was most awe-inspiring, and the feeling instilled " what 

 may happen next ?" 



As might be expected, very great difference of opinion existed 

 among persons in camp as to the direction whence the shock came 

 and proceeded, some even stating the very reverse of the true 

 direction. There is very little doubt that the direction was from west 

 to east, the noise and motion in the trees certainly subsided and 

 passed off to the east. A helitroper with 2 men, on the top of 



