32 C. Little — Cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. [No. 2, 



When I use the expression personal observation, I do not wish it 

 to be understood that that part of my experience was gained at sea. I 

 refer to storms which have recurved over Lower Bengal. In all cases, 

 whether at sea or on land, I have seen no reliable indication supplied 

 by the telegraphed reports, on which could be based any statement 

 beforehand that the storm will recurve. But that recurving is readily 

 shown afterwards by ground-level observations. Now, because the 

 recurving is so readily shown, and because the result of it may be that 

 ships or ports, to all appearance free from danger, become involved in 

 the storm, the onus of proving that this occurrence could not be fore- 

 seen may at any time fall upon some individual ill-prepared to meet the 

 charge. It, therefore, appears to me to be important that it should be 

 fully recognised that, as far as present-day knowledge of storms goes, 

 recurving can be neither foreseen nor provided against. In support of 

 this belief I put forward the cyclonic storm of November 14th last, and 

 the tracks of the two steamers. Tliis is not, it should be understood, 

 the only storm in the period over which my experience extends, that 

 might be brought forward as evidence in favour of my contention. 

 But a rapidly-moving cyclone, such, as the one of the 14th November, 

 last was, with the accident of two ships moving from opposite direc- 

 tions on the outer boundary of the storm at noon and involved in the 

 hurricane area before midnight, gives a very rare combination — so rare 

 that full advantage should be taken of the lessons to be extracted. It 

 will be seen that both ships, under entirely different circumstances, con- 

 tinued steering almost directly towards the storm area, and this is 

 more remarkable in the case of the Madura, because everything was 

 done that a study of the rules laid down by Sir J. Eliot in the Hand- 

 book and " the full co-operation of the intelligence of the person " 

 could do to keep away from the storm centre. It should be remem- 

 bered that these ships were navigated by men who have had many 

 years' experience of weather in the north of the Bay, who have made 

 a careful study of the historical survey of the various storms in the 

 Handbook, and have been compelled by circumstances to watch weather 

 changes very carefully. It should also be remembered that besides the 

 Captain of the ship there was on each vessel a member of the Hooglily 

 Pilot Service, whose members are specially acquainted with weather 

 conditions in the north of the Bay. My information was in the first 

 instance received from Mr. Thorpe, of that Service, who was on board 

 the Madura; and such facts as have reached me since have all tended 

 to confirm my opinion that the statement of the first page of the 

 Handbook, that in the great majority of cases, if not in all, the mariner 

 will be enabled, by following these instructions, to avoid the storm 



