1884.] 



oj the Bay of Bengal in 1883. 



145 



I 



previous 24 hours at Nancowry. The sky was densely clouded and mode- 

 rate rain was falling. 1*16 inches of rain were registered at 10 A. M. At 

 Port Blair, the wind had shifted round to north-west, but was not as yet 

 blowing strongly. Rain was falling, but the amount registered up to 

 10 A. M. of the 10th was small. In South Burmah, the sky had become 

 overcast, and the weather gloomy and threatening, more especially at 

 Diamond Island and Toungoo. Less rain, however, fell on the Burmah 

 coast than had been received on the previous day. It thus again appears 

 probable, if not certain, that the rainfall was becoming more concentrated 

 over a smaller area than hitherto, a favourable, if not a necessary, condi- 

 tion, according to the condensation theory, for the development of an 

 atmospheric whirl. 



These observations also show that cyclonic circulation had been 

 initiated, and was now established over the centre and north of the Gulf 

 of Martaban, and the adjacent part of the Bay ; and that the central de- 

 pression or centre of disturbance, as determined by the fall of the baro- 

 meter, the amount of rain, and the velocity of the wind, was nearest to 

 Port Blair, and to the east of it. 



Hence it is evident that, although the conditions for the formation 

 of a whirl had been present for some days, it was only on the 10th that 

 the meteorological observations at the nearest land stations gave clear 

 indications of its existence. 



The information contained in the meteorological abstracts from the 

 logs of vessels is tabulated below : — 







6 



o 



T3 



i § 



Winds. 





Vessel. 



Hour. 





"Us' 



O 



able 

 edb£ 

 er. 







Eemaeks. 











03 



Prob 

 due 

 met 



Dir. 



Force. 





Scottish Hill 



4a.m. 









N. 



1 



Light airs and calms. 





8a.m. 









N. E. 



1 



Winds very variable. 





Noon 



13° 31' 



89° 40' 29-910 



N. W. 



1 



Light airs and calms. 





4 p.m. 









N. N. W. 



2 



Squally and dirty. 





8 p.m. 









N.N.E. 



3 



Arched rain squalls. 





Midnt. 







•890 



N.W. 



3 





Mount Stuart 



4a.m. 

 8 a.m. 









N. E. 



1 toO 

 3 to 4 



Sea moderate with 

 light westerly swell. 

 Light fleecy clouds. 

 Lightning in the N.W. 





Noon 



13° 55' 



91° 31' 



29-865 



... 



... 



Towards the after- 

 noon, weather began 





4 p.m. 









... 



4 



to be squally. At 

 sunset, sharp squalls 





8 p.m. 







•805 



... 



... 



and squally -looking 

 all round. Midnight. 





Midnt. 









E.byN. 



... 



Showery. 



