APRIL — JUNE 1857.] Jetty over the Surf at Madras. 133 
shape, from the depth they penetrated the soil, which "svas of about common 
hardness, those Tvho have observed the power of projectiles in such cases, will be 
able 10 calculate, approximately, what that velocity was. 
Of the excitement among the Natives I suppose I need not ?peak. I visited 
the place because of the rumours that were flying abroad, making it evident to 
my mind that some thing peculiar had there transpired. First I saw the holes 
from which, in the cul'.ivated^elds they had been freshly taken, no rain having 
subsequently fallen, and saw at the bottom the hardly coynpressecl, and exact 
impression left by them as they were taken up, and then as foon as I saw the stones, 
I knew instantly they were the identical ones which had been taken up from 
those places. As I was more or less known in that region, and therS is do 
gentleman whatever any where near, the rural people, utterly ignorant of the 
cause, came in great numbers to state the facts and ask some explanation. Some 
of them supposed they were gods that had fallen ; some that they liad been shot 
from cannon on ships at Tuticorin, and some that a Brahmin had brought them 
from the sea by his Munterums, Some rejected all these theories, but no one 
could tell or feel satisfied as to how these things could be. By simply striking 
my staff through the air I could explain to them the noise; and by tying a 
Btone to a string and swinging" it, I could make them understand the centrifugal 
end centripetal forces, and how that from some disturbance in these forces, s*onei 
moving about some centre, like the Moon about the Earth, might fall. Tlie ex- 
planations gave them relief. They put confidence in me, and gave me the 
stones at my request, that 1 might save them from the trouble of any oflBcial 
investigation, and put them into some Museum or Scientific Institution. 
p. S.— I forgot to say that there was nothing peculiar in the state of the 
atmosphere. It was a clear day. When the stone is sent on to Madras, if any 
scientific Gentleman makes an analysis of it, for the Museum, please be so good 
as to ask a copy of it for me. 
JReport upo7i Captain Taylor^ s proposed Jetty thrown over the Surf 
at Madras. 
The undersigned'" having met agreeably to Extract Minutes of 
Consultation, July 24th, 1856, have examined the Model of Captain 
Taylor's proposed Jetty to be thrown over the surf at Madras, and 
considered the subject as treated of in his Memorandum. The 
Jetty would consist of a line of piles, or rather masts, planted in 
the sandy bottom, but mainly dependent for their support upon 
shrouds or stays secured to anchors on either side of the line. It 
* Fred. C, Cotton, Lieut. ColoJiel. 
Chris. Biden, Master Attendant. 
R. Kennedy, Assist. Civil Engineer. 
1 
