1G4 J. Eliot — The South-West Monsoon Storms [No. 2, 



Winds were mucli lighter at Nancowry and Port Blair, but were un- 

 altered in direction, and continued to give moderate rain. They had 

 veered to S. S. E. in Burmah, except at Diamond Island, where they were 

 from the south. A severe gale of wind had prevailed at that station 

 during the previous 24 hours, but was beginning to moderate. Heavy 

 rain had been brought up by the southerly winds into South Burmah. 

 Bassein received 5"9 inches, Rangoon 2'4, and Diamond Island 1'47 during 

 the previous 24 hours. 



The land observations are not sufficient to enable the position of 

 the centre of the storm at this time to be inferred. The slight shift of 

 wind at Diamond Island, the considerable rise of the barometer at that 

 station, and the very small fall at Akyab, indicate that the storm was 

 being largely influenced and retarded by the action of the Bui'mese and 

 Arakan hills. The southerly winds in the easterly quadrant, instead of 

 passing mainly over a water surface, were now blowing partly over South 

 Burmah. The friction between the winds and the earth's surface, and 

 the action of the hills in breaking up and disintegrating the rotatory or 

 vorticose motion of the air, evidently account for the change which was 

 taking place, and which is more clearly shown by the ships' observations. 



The Satara was in the north-east quadrant. Her position at noon 

 was probably about Lat. 16° 20' N. and Long. 94° E. She was between 

 the storm centre and the Burmese coast, and received the full weight of 

 the southerly winds during the day. She had strong gales with violent 

 squalls and heavy rain during the whole day, and the weather only began 

 to moderate about 8 p. M., after which she had a fresh gale with thick 

 weather and heavy squalls. 



The position of the Loanda is slightly doubtful. She was almost in 

 front of the cyclonic centre, probably a few miles only to the west. She 

 had north-easterly winds of force 10 at midday. The storm increased, 

 and at midnight was blowing a hurricane. Her barometer at midday 

 (corrected) was 29*5. 



The BycuUa was in the south-east quadrant. She had crossed the 

 path of the centre on the previous evening at about 11 p. m., and steamed 

 away to the east during the day. Early in the morning, she was near 

 the centre, and received the full weight of the south-westerly winds. 

 The wind veered to south-west shortly after midnight, and blew with 

 great violence ; terrific squalls of wind and rain passing over the ship 

 at intervals. At 8 a. m., the wind blew a heavy gale with terrific squalls 

 from S. S. W. and S. W., bringing up a high confused sea. Weather began 

 to moderate after 11 A. M., and in the afternoon, when the vessel was pro- 

 bably 200 miles away from the storm centre, she experienced fresh 

 breezes with passing squalls. The barometer rose rapidly and continu- 

 ously during the day from 29*44 at 2 A. M. to 29*83 at midnight. 



