The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-08-16
The Singing Fish of CaYlon.

On the occasion of another visit which
made to BatticOlUa in Sept, 1913, made
some inquiries relative to q story which
had hoard Of musical sounds, said to be
heard issuing from tho bottom of the lake,
at several places. both above and below tho
ferry, opposite the old Dutch Fort; and
which the natives suppose to proceed from
some fish peculiar to tho locality. The re-
port was confirmed to ne in all its particu-
lars, and one of the spots whonce the sound
proceeded was pointed out between the pier
and rock which intersects the channel
two or three hundred yards to the cast.
! ward. They were said TO be beard at night
and most distinctly when tho moon was
nearest the full, and thoy were described as
resembling the faint, sweet notes of an
4E 'lian harp.
sent for some of the fishermen, who
said they were perfectly aware of tho fact,
aud that their fathers had always known Of
the existence of tho musical sounds heard.
they said. at tho spot alluded to, but only
during the dry season. and they cease when
the lake is swolon by the freshet after the
rain. They believed them TO proceed from
shell, which is known by the Tamil of
oorie cootoroe cradOe. tho "crying she'll"
namo in which the sound seems to have been
i
them in search of the she'll, and they re-
turned. bringing me some livirg specimens
OF different shells, chiefly iiitorina and ceri-
hium. In the evening. when tho moon had
risen, took boat and accompanied the
fishermen to the spot
We rowed about 200 yards northeast of
the jctty by the Fort gate; there was not a
breath of wind nor ripple except that
caused by the dip of our oars and on COM
ing to the point mentioned, l distinctly
heard the sounds in question. They came
up from the water like the gentle triIls of q
musical chord, or the faint vibrations of a
wine glass when its rim is rubbed BY q wet
finger. Ii was not one sustained note, but
multitude of tiny sounds, each clear and
distinct in itself; tho sweeter treble ming
ling with tho lowest bass. On applying tho
car 10 the wood work of the boat, the yibra.
tion was greatly increased in volume by
conduction. The sounds varied considera.
bly, ut different points, as we moved across
the lake. as If tho number of the animals
from which they proceeded was greatest in
particular spots; and occasionally we rowed
out of hearing of them altogether, until on
returning to the original locality, the sounds
wero at once renewed.
This fact seems to Indicate that the causes
of the sounds, whatever they may be, are
stationary at several points; ard this agrees
with the statement of the natives that they
are produced by mollusca,s ,sand not by fish
Tney camo evidently and sensi5ly from tho
depth OF the lake. and there was nothing in
the surrounding circumstances to support a
conjecture that they could bo the reverbera
tion of noises made by insects on the shore,
conveyed along the surface. of the water. for
thoy were lou'lest and most distinct at those
points where the nature of The land and tho
intervention of the Fort and it's buildings
forbade the possibility of this kind of con-
ductiOn. Sounds somewhat similar are
hoard under water at some places on the
western coas: of India, especially in the
harbor of Bombay. At Caldora, in Chill,
musical cadences arc stated to issue from
the sea noar the landing place; thoy are
described as rising and falling fully four
notes, resembling the tones of harpstrings,
and mipgling like those at Battcoloa; still
they produce a musical discord of great
dolicacy and sweetness. The animals from
which they proceed have not been identified
at either place, and the mystery remains
unsolvod. whether those at Batticoloa are
given forth by fishes or mOlluses.-Sir J.
Emerson Ienpdnt's CeytOn.