Rav Chananya ben Rav Mesharsheya was head of the yeshiva in Pumbedita from year 4522 for 7 years. And in his days Mar Rav Mari HaLevi [(bar Mar Rav Mesharsheya, Yuchsin in the letter of Rash"b. And in the order of tradition from the Rama"n, year 4552)] was head of the yeshiva in Sura for three and a half years until year 4527 [(Tzemach David), and in Shada"k page 36b he died in year 4542, surely an error].

There was great cold and frost the likes of which had never been seen, and many thousands of people and animals died. The waters between the north froze for 100 parasangs in length, and the thickness of the ice in some places was 30 cubits [(Tzemach David, Part 2)].