132 



Scientific Intelligence. 



[no. o, new series, 



They fell on the 28th of February, Saturday, at about noon, a little South 

 East of the Village of Parnallee, Latitude north, according to the Government 

 Map, 9° 14', Longitude 78° 21' East. 



The largest one fell a few seconds before the smaller one, and from two to 

 three miles North of it. As was manifest from the hole it made in the ground 

 when it fell it came from a direction some ten degrees West of North, making 

 an angle of about 15 or 20 degrees with a line perpendicular to the earth'a 

 surface. It struck the earth, (or at least lay in the bottom of the hole made by 

 it) flatwise, on the side that is most convex. The most round or convex side of 

 the smaller stone also was downward, this being the position they would naturally 

 assume as they passed with great velocity, through the resisting atmosphere, an 

 idea which did not occur to me till now. I had before simply noted the fact. 

 The larger stone sank into the earth when it fell two feet and five inches in a 

 perpendicular direction. The smaller one about two feet and eight inches. The 

 smaller one fell also about perpendicularly. The smaller does not appear in any 

 respect like a fragment of the larger one. The specific gravity of the smaller 

 one when it fell was about 3 3, water being the standard of unity. I observ- 

 ed that the specific gravity was increased after exposure to a shower, or rather 

 that of the smaller one was. I did not try that of the larger. The crack on 

 the convex side of the larger one I did not perceive at ail till it had been wet, 

 and then at first it was hut just perceptible. Afterwards it gradually opened, I 

 suppose owing to the oxidation of the native iron it contains, perhaps however to 

 other causes. The stone had not been wet till they came into my hands, April 

 21st. They each of them fell in cultivated fields, one of which had been harvested. 

 The straw in the other was still standing. 



The noise seems to have been terrific to the Natives, causing those near to 

 crouch from fear. It came like two claps of thunder, as they fell one after tho 

 other, and continuing for some time, but gradually growing less loud. As they 

 fell through the whole depth of our atmosphere this would naturally be the case. 

 The noise appears to have been heard at Tuticorin forty mjles distant. At this 

 place, sixteen miles North, it excited considerable interest among those abroad at 

 the time. The noise must have been great, occasioned by their great velocity. 

 Taking their specific gravity into the account, say 3 - 3, their size being about 

 that of large cannon balls, some allowance also being made for their irregular 



Tuticorin. The report of the descent of these bodies was heard distinctly at 

 Tuticorin 40 miles off, and in all the surrounding villages. 



The subject appears to me an interesting one for scientific enquiries, and this 

 is my chief reason for requesting you to have the goodness to cause its insertion 

 in the columns of your paper. 



I am, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



J. COLEBROOKE, 



Zillah Surgeon, Madura* 



Maduea, 9th April l$57.~Athenceum. 



