Correspondence, 



455 



Appearance of a New Volcanic Island on the Arrakan Coast. 



Reports of an island having suddenly appeared on the Coast 

 of Arrakan, we took an opportunity when writing a short time since 

 to Captain Boyle, the Commissioner of the Province, to enquire 

 incidentally, as to whether he had heard of such an occurrence, when 

 we were favoured with the following obliging reply : — 



" I should also be most happy to be able to give you a full 

 and true account of the island lately thrown up ; but all that is at 

 present known is, that on 26th of July last, a volcanic eruption took 

 place, about a quarter of a mile off the South end of False Island, 

 (South-east of Chedooba,) and that after fuming away for the next 

 three days, it was observed that a new island had been formed on the 

 spot. The place is so exposed, that no one can approach it in the 

 South W. Monsoon; but now that the boisterous season is over, I hope 

 to see it myself, if not, to obtain some further particulars regarding it. 

 No one lives on False Island, and all the information we possess, is 

 derived from the people of Flat Island, who have been so frightened 

 by the affair, and annoyed by a witch who has for sometime been 

 residing on their Island, and who they have been strictly pro- 

 hibited either ducking or burning as they would desire, that they are 

 quitting their homes and seeking peace and quiet on Chedooba, 

 leaving the bid witch Queen of the Isles ! !" 



Extract of a Letter from Captain A. Jack, ZQth Regiment, N. I. 

 Lucknow, 5th September, 1843, 



I have read with great pleasure Captain T. Hutton's exposition of 

 the error into which the scientific world had been led, with regard 

 to the snow lying longer and deeper on the southern aspect, than 

 on the northern of the Hymalaya, which error he has exposed most 

 lucidly, and the fact of its being exactly the reverse, is strongly cor- 

 roborated by Captain Cunningham ; if it wants any further confirma- 

 tion, I find abundance in my diary. I crossed the Borendo Ghat on 

 the 25th September 1842, and there was no snow at all on the 

 southern aspect, or on the very summit of the Pass ; but descending 



