'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎50] (67/258)

1
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY.
Noon. Lat. 18 ° 10’, long. 71 ° 50’, the wind or rather more like thunder than like wind, kept
hauling to the N. W. and westward until from 6 to 10. I think I never did hear anything in
my life equal to the fury it blew, as to see it was quite impossible, I nearly got my eyes beat
out endeavouring to look aloft to see if every thing held on. It would be impossible to give
a description of things at this time, except I say the ship was enveloped in one flake of thun
der and water, both salt and fresh. About 10 at night, the Barom-ter commenced rising. I
looked and watched it close, still doubting its truth, as the gales till raged as violent as ever.—
Midnight. The gale abated, made sail, wind from N. W. to N. N. W., having had timely
notice by Barometer, and after many years experience as a ship master, 1 had everything well
secured and prepared, still had not the Norwood possessed many good qualities, superior to
most ships I have had command of, with all her masts, rigging, spars, &c. of the very best,
something must have given out, and the ship would have been dismasted, if not entirely lost.
November 2nd—At daylight every thing looked strange from the royal mast head to the
deck, all covered with salt water and brine, with here and there a dead bird stuck fast, having
struck in the night against the rigging.—8 Made sail.—11. Saw the high land of Thull.—.
Noon. Calm off the harbour.—Sunset. Tacked off the light boat, being a stranger to the
harbour, and having no chart of it, did not like to run in without a pilot.—Midnight- Hove
to till daylight.
November 3rd.—At daylight passed in by the light ship, could not get a pilot. Wind light
at noon, came to anchor below the middle ground to wait for a pilot, thought all the pilots had
been lost in the gale, as I saw several bodies drift past the ship. At 2 p at pilot came on board
—came to anchor at the moorings.
Extract of a letter from the Captain of the Ship Glendaragh.
Yesterday before receiving y -ur Circular I sent you an abstract of my log from China and
there made remarks on the height at which my Barometer always stood. Yesterday it went
ashore for the purpose of adjustment, but at l n .30 A M before disturbing, it stood at 30.40.
1 regret that taking as I do a very great interest in the law of storms, it is in my power to
assist you with so little intelligence.
During tlie Hurricane the greatest fall of my Barometer was 29.92 at the passage of the cen
tre, it having fallen one-tenth in a very short time, at the commencement of the lull, and rose
a tenth again just after first burst of the gale caught us again, but I was so engaged by the H
C. S. Hastings fouling me that I paid no attention to the exact time. My Barometer at noon oil
the 1st stood at 30 37.
I have to mention that during the whole night I observed but two claps of thunder one about
half past three a m and the other about half past four, but these were very severe.
From accounts given me by the Captains of the “ Tara” and the “Alfred the Great” I
have also in a humble way been endeavouring to ascertain the course of the Hurricane and I
think you will find that it came off the coast somewhere about Mangalore, proceeded to the 2f,
N. W. till off the Angrias Bank, then removed to the N. N. E. or N. E. by N„ for I think
where it passed over Bombay there can be no doubt it was travelling in that direction.
Extract of a letter from the Captain of the Ship Forfarshire.
I beg to forward you an abstract of my log as requested, the Baromoter and Thermometer
were all taken at noon.
Wednesday 35th Ociober.
Latitude 10° 47' N. Barometer 29 80
Longitude 69° 53' E. Thermometer 82
Cloudy weather and much rain, Wind from N. E. to N. W.
Thursday, 26th October,
Latitude no 21' N. Barometer
Longitude 69° 24' E. Thermometer
Light Wind from N. W. to N- N. W. with rain and cloudy weather.
Friday, 27th October.
Latitude.... 12° 1' N. Barometer....
Longitude 7 qo 24' E. Thermometer
Wind light and variable from N. W. to N. N. W., with rain.