FIRE ON THREE HUMMOCK ISLAND. 301 



30.02. This gale lasted, blowing with the same vio- 

 lence, (latterly from E.) until 1, p. m. the next day, 

 when after a calm of about a quarter of an hour 

 the wind changed suddenly toN. with rain, thunder, 

 and vivid lightning, and by 4, P. m. had veered to 

 west and increased once more to a strong gale with 

 heavy squalls. The barometer at the same time 

 began to rise ; it had been stationary at 29.6. since 

 the morning. 



It was the evening of the 31st before this gale 

 blew over, after veering to the S.W. The barome- 

 ter at the time was at 29-9. having risen to that 

 height in the morning. The rotatory character of 

 this storm, which resembled those we had experienced 

 on our former visit, induces me to enter thus 

 into details respecting it. These observations, 

 too, may evince more plainly, the necessity of an 

 anchorage at this time of the year being sheltered 

 from both east and west winds. 



The fire that had been accidentally kindled on 

 Three Hummock Island, when we were last there, 

 was still burning. This conflagration had almost 

 been fatal to Mr. Bynoe, who was out in the scrubs 

 when it burst forth, having with great difficulty 

 forced his way among them in search of specimens 

 for his collection of birds. His attention was sud- 

 denly roused by the roaring of the flames as they 

 swept down the sides of the hills, wrapping them in 

 a sheet of fire. The predicament in which lie was 

 placed was a most critical one, as he hardly knew 

 v(7hich way to turn to avoid the pressing danger. 



