1884.1 of the Bay of Bengal in 1883. 87 



The character of the weather is fully shown by the reports given in 

 the logs. Two vessels, the Commillah and Pemba, were in the east and 

 south-east quadrants, in which alone the winds were violent. The 

 Pemba was in Lat. 18° 14' N". and Long. 90° 59' E. by account at noon. 

 She experienced strong S. S. W. gales during the whole day, with a high 

 sea, and heavy rain squalls. A heavy sea smashed in her port bulwark 

 rails early in the morning, after which the Captain eased the engines, and 

 laid to, with the ship's head to S. S. E., during the greater part of the 

 afternoon. The Commilla, which was proceeding from Chittagong to Cal- 

 cutta, did not feel the full weight of the south-westerly winds until the 

 afternoon, when she was between the Mutlah station and the Sandheads. 

 She experienced, early in the morning, winds varying very considerably 

 in force, with occasional hard squalls from S. S. W., and much rain. Dur- 

 ing the whole of the afternoon, she had very hard squalls with heavy rain, 

 and a tremendous sea. At 7-20 p. m. a terrific sea carried away the 

 starboard cutter. This was followed by very violent squalls of force 

 11 from the south-west. 



The position of the British Princess was not ascertained by observa- 

 tion during the day,, and it is almost certain that she must have drifted 

 considerably with the strong currents set up at this time in the Head 

 of the Bay. She was in the south-western quadrant in the morning, 

 and had heavy rain with a high confused sea. The rainfall increased 

 early in the morning, and during the greater part of the day she had 

 " torrents of rain." The squalls also became heavier as the day advanced, 

 and at midnight furious squalls (force 11) from the south-west passed 

 over the vessel. 



The Saint Magnus was in the western quadrant in the morning, 

 when she had north-westerly winds of force 4 to 6. Heavy gusts of 

 wind passed over the vessel, and continuous rain fell during the whole 

 morning. In the evening, she was in the southerly quadrant, where she 

 began to experience terrific squalls with a tremendous sea. At midnight, 

 it was blowing a furious gale (force 10) from the south-west. 



Hence, over a large area to the east and south-east of the central 

 depression, violent south-westerly winds of force 9 to 11 were blowing at 

 this time, producing a very high and dangerous sea near the Head of 

 the Bay. 



Further south, as shewn by the log of the Bancoora, the winds in the 

 centre of the Bay (Lat. 15° N., Long. 83° E.) were of moderate force and 

 gave very faint indications of the action and disturbance to the northward. 



The Star of Albion, Roma, Prince Amadeo, and Scottish Chieftain 

 wore to the west of the centre of the whirl during the greater part of the 

 day. The Scottish Chieftain was probably nearest to it at noon. 



