1840. J the Tlieory of the Law of Storms in India. 1021 



The strength of the gale was felt more southerly at Pooree ; and inland 



the rain appears to have been heavier, and the wind less. 



The May gales have not affectd Balasore since May 1823. No vessels 



lost on the coast; several put into Chooramoon in distress. 



A. Bond. 



/ am indebted for the following letter to Mr. Ewart, Magistrate of Pooree. 



Your letter to Mr. Cumberland has been handed to me. During the 

 storm, and for some weeks, Mr. Cumberland had been very unwell, and 

 had ceased to keep a Meteorological Register. At the time of the storm, 

 1 and two other gentlemen were staying at our house. On comparing notes 

 next day, we discovered that we differed in one material point, viz. which 

 way the storm went round. 



To the best of my remembrance, the South-west wind, which generally 

 blows so steadily during part of February, March, April, May, and part of 

 June, failed and became variable, hanging between South and East. The 

 sky was very cloudy, and on Wednesday, 29tli April, there were showers. 

 On Wednesday afternoon the wind was very strong from NbE. ; the rain 

 and wind continued to increase during the night from ENE. On Thurs- 

 day morning, ^Oth April, at daylight, it was blowing strong, but people 

 went about their ordinary avocations. By 10 a.m. there was a gale 

 from NE. At noon I went on my elephant to visit the various ladies 

 who had come with their families, but without their husbands. The wind 

 was so violent and gusty, that I found it necessary to hold fast by the 

 pad-ropes, and the drifting rain and sand frequently made the elephant 

 stand, and refuse to proceed. From 8 a.m. on Thursday, ^Oth, the 

 rain was incessant. The wind continued to blow, with about the same 

 violence, after 10 a.m. till evening from the North-east. It then 

 veered to nearly North, and after hanging between N. and NE., at about 

 7| P.M. entirely lulled. About 8, what we imagined the ordinary monsoon 

 breeze began to blow from SW. ; it however increased, and got round to 

 nearer the West. By 9| p.m. it blew from WSW. with far greater violence 

 than it had from the other direction. Many houses had lost a portion of 

 the thatch by the NE. wind, but almost all were, destroyed by the West 

 wind. It began to abate about 4 a.m. on Friday 1^^. May ; there were 

 occasional gusts during the morning from SW., but our usual breeze blew 

 pretty regularly ; my impression was, that just before the lull on Thursday 

 evening the wind was at NW. and went by the East to SW. This struck 

 me particularly, because it was contrary to the received theory. 



I fear this is a very vague account, but it is the best I can give. 

 Pooree, 



30^/^ Marj, 1840. James K. Ewart. 



