'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎9] (120/258)

ON HAILSTORMS IN INDIA.
9
either on their approach to or their impingement ou the ground ; and the
same tiling will apply to those of much more moderate bulk, and which ar«
commonly considered hailstones, though, when examined, they turn out to
bea number of these aggregated together. Many of the masses doubtless
owe their origin to being swept, like that of 1852 near Belgaum, into
hollows or cavities—in this particular case into a dry well—where they
become almost immediately congealed into a mass.
The following abstract is from the paper already referred to, prepared
by Colonel Sykes for the British Association of 1850 :—
“ On the 10th of April 1822, at Bangalore, a hailstorm killed many cattle, the
hailstones being represented by the natives as large as pumpkins. Three days
after the storm the gentleman who gives an account of it says, ‘ I went to the
spot and found the carcases of 27 bullocks lacerated by hailstones; also dead
birds. In a tank 300 yards in circumference, half of the surface was covered with
floating masses of hailstones which had been carried down the ravines two days
before; some of the masses were five and a half inches in thickness; the hailstones
were angular and oval, and some measured three inches in diameter.* '
At Kamptee, on the 3rd of June 1823, an officer writes, ‘ the hailstones, without
exaggeration, were as large as pullets’ eggs’.
At Bopalpoor on the 9th of February 1825, an officer writes, ‘ the hailstones
were the largest and most extraordinary ever seen, some of them being larger
and as heavy as goose-eggs, which they resembled.’
At Serampoor in Bengal, on the 30th of March 1827, the European writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping.
says, ‘ each of the hailstones was equal to the size of a goose’s egg’.
At Kotah, on the 5th of March 1827, the hailstones were as large as a man’s fist,
and the next day remained unmelted, of the size of pigeons’ eggs. Men, animals,
and birds were killed; in the village of Nauda alone six persons were killed and
seven others dangerously braised.
At Calcutta, on the 20th of Aprfl 1829, the Editor of the Bengal Chronicle says,
4 one of the hailstones brought to us was larger than a duck’s egg:’ many of them
were angular fragments of ice, and several natives were killed.
At Serampore the hailstones were as large as hens' egg, and consisted of coats
like an onion; the nucleus was whiter than the exterior.
At Sylhet, on the 19th of February 1830, the hailstones were the size of the
largest potatoes.f Sheep and goats were killed. At Jubbulpoor, on the 9th or
April 1831, the hailstones were the sizo of guinea fowls’ eggs. On the 10th of
April 1831, at Kamptee, some of the hailstones measured from ten to twelve
inches in circumference, few or none smaller than a hen’s egg; five persons were
killed in the neigbourhood. At Allahabad, on the 5th May 1833, a hailstone
weighed 6 § ounces troy, and measured ten inches in circumference. At Chunar,
on the same day, the gentleman writes, ‘ blocks of ice fell; I am really speaking
within bounds when I say a goose’s egg was a trifle compared to some of the
stones that fell; one measured 11 J inches in circumference.’ 4 I am informed’ ha
adds, ‘ one hailstone in the bazaar weighed two pounds.’ On the 16th of March
1834, at Raneegunge, a gentleman travelling in a palkee writes, ‘ my palkee
top yesterday was broke through in three places by hailstones, and one of my
* This was on the third day after the fall in the scorching month of April,
f Potatoes in general are not much larger than hens’ eggs in India.