1840.] the Theory of the Law of Storms in India. 1011 



the close-reefed topsail on her, owing to the heavy weather lurches ; sea 

 making a continued roll over the vessel ; gale increasing. Sun obscured. 

 During the whole of this twenty-four hours ship was sailing to the south- 

 ward, p. M. heavy gale from SE. and varying to SSE. with a terrific sea 

 on making a awflil breach over the ship ; going 2i knots through the 

 water up to 4 a.m. Course SbW, to SW. From 4 a.m. to noon, ship's head to 

 NE. and ENE. ; having wore round. Carried away one of the channel plates. 

 Midnight ship rolling heavy, taking the sea in on both sides. 



2dth April, 4 a.m. Wind a little more moderate, but sea still continuing the 

 same. Set reefed foresail to steady the ship. Noon rather clear, but gale 

 still blowing hard. Wind SE. 



Lat. Obs. Noon, 16o32'N. 



Long. Obs. Noon, 91o 02' E. 



At 9, a brig passed, scudding under a foresail only, with topgallant mast 

 on deck. 1 p.m. up foresail; a very threatening appearance to the southward. 

 At 2-30, wore ship to the SW., at the same time, to clear a whirlwind. By this 

 maneeuvre allowed the whirlwind to pass about 200 yards on the lee quarter ; at this 

 time blowing a perfect hurricane. Wind SSE. and S. Furled every thing to a 

 storm main trysail, and hove the ship to ; torrents of rain ; sea making a 

 constant breach over the ship. At 5 p.m. more moderate ; set the close-reefed 

 topsails, and at 10-30, wore ship to the ESE. Sea still continued high, and 

 a cross head sea, owing to shift of wind in the whirlwind. 



^Oth April. Daylight, more moderate. Wind SSE. Wore round to the 

 SW. ; sea still running high and confused, a.m. weather clearing up a little. 



Noon Obs., Lat 160 21'N. 



Ditto Long 91o50'E.' 



Noon, moderate. 



The phsenomenon which Capt. Tapley describes in the log of the 29th, 

 and which I have printed in italics, I thought so extraordinary that I 

 requested of him a more particular account of it, and the following is 

 his very graphic description of this awful addition to the fiiry of a tem- 

 pest, which is, I believe, quite new in our naval records. A whirlwind 

 coming down upon a vessel, lying to, in the midst of a hurricane, must, one 

 would think, carry inevitable destruction with it,* should it fall upon her. 

 The Freak seems to have lost her foremast in one, as will be seen by her 

 log. Capt. Tapley says, " I have much pleasure in giving you answers 

 to your inquiries, as nearly as I can. At 1 p.m. 30^7* April, by Nautical 

 time, (but by Civil time the 29th,) a very threatening appearance to the 

 Southward; ship's head east, a terrific squall from the SSE. rising very 



* Col. Reid refers to an instance of this kind, but I cannot now find the passage 

 again.— H. P. 



6 N 



