468 



III. Extract of a Letter from Captain BLAKISTON, R.A., to 

 General SABINE, R.A., Treasurer and V.P.R.S., dated 

 Singapore, February 22, 1860, giving an account of a 

 remarkable Ice Shower. Communicated by General SA- 

 BINE. Received April 19, 1860. 



"On the 14th January, 1860, when two days out from the Cape 

 of Good Hope, about three hundred miles S.S.E. of it, in lat. 38 

 53' S., long. 20 45' E., we encountered a heavy squall with rain 

 at 10 A.M., lasting one hour, the wind shifting suddenly from east 

 to north (true). During the squall there were three vivid flashes of 

 lightning, one of which was very close to the ship ; and, at the same 

 time, a shower of ice fell which lasted about three minutes. It was 

 riot hail, but irregular-shaped pieces of solid ice, of different dimen- 

 sions, up to the size of half a brick. The squall was so heavy that 

 the topsails were let go. 



" There appears to have been no previous indication of this squall, 

 for the barometer at 6 P.M. on the two previous days had been at 

 30-00, therm. 70; at 8 A.M. on the 14th, 29'82, therm. 70; at 

 10 A.M. (time of squall), 29'86, therm. 70 ; and at 1 P.M., when the 

 weather had cleared, wind north (true), 29*76, therm. 69 ; after 

 which it fell slowly and steadily during the remainder of the day and 

 following night*. 



" As to the size of the pieces of ice which fell, two which were 

 weighed, after having melted considerably, were 3^ and 5 ounces 

 respectively ; while I had one piece given me, a good quarter of an 

 hour after the squall, which would only just go into an ordinary 

 tumbler. And one or two persons depose to having seen pieces the 

 size of a brick. 



" On examination of the ship's sails afterwards, they were found to 

 be perforated in numerous places with small holes. A very thick 

 glass cover to one of the compasses was broken. 



" Although several persons were struck, and some knocked down 

 on the deck, fortunately no one was seriously injured." 



* The weather on the morning preceding the squall was clouded, with close and 

 thick atmosphere, wind E. (true), 3. By night of the 14th the wind had hauled 

 to N.W. (true), 4 ; and the day following was W.S.W. (true), 56, cloudy. 



