438 A Second Memoir with reference to [No. 100. 



and I take it to have passed over the meridian of Coringa, to the south- 

 ward, and at a very short distance, about midnight of the 16th and 17th, 

 or early in the morning of the 17th. We have no farther news of it in- 

 land. Samulcottah, from which some reports are dated, is about fifteen 

 miles north of Coringa, but within 7 or 8 of the coast. I wrote to the 

 Collector of Coringa for further information as to the storm inland, 

 but have no reply. By the Lighthouse-keeper's report, we find the rise 

 of the river to have begun at 2 p.m. of the 16th. Now as this was 

 owing to the damming up of its waters by those of the sea, and not to 

 any inland fall of rain, — for the inundation was one of salt water, a 

 wave, or rise, forced in over a low country — we may suppose this to 

 have a little preceded the vortex, which thus becomes, as I have made 

 it, one of about 150 miles in diameter. This agrees with the position of 

 the " Arethusa," which vessel we find at this time bearing up at 6 a.m 

 with fine weather, and the wind at SE. at noon, being out of the storm. 

 I trust that to those who will take the trouble to follow these obser- 

 vations, referring to the diagrams which are upon the same scale as the 

 chart, will be satisfied that there is as good evidence as the mature of 

 things will allow, for the track which I have assigned for this storm. 



II. The size of the vortex. 

 It will be seen by the chart and diagrams, that this is a remarkable 

 instance of a storm decreasing in size as it progresses, but apparently 

 increasing in violence. The diagram of the 13th, No. II, where we 

 have the " Ganges" with a severe gale at ENE ; the " Balguerie" with 

 it at SW., and the " Bedford" at ESE.; all with their positions well 

 ascertained, and including thus 22 points, or |ds of the compass, may be 

 taken I think, as a fair instance of a circular storm, about 300 miles in 

 diameter. That of the 16th where, though the hurricane — for it cer- 

 tainly was one there — had just left the "Arethusa," "Rosalind" and 

 " Ripley" a few hours, was but just touching Coringa, Vizagapatam, and 

 Samulcottah, and had fairly begun with the " Indian Queen," may be 

 taken as proof that it had then contracted to about 150 miles, and was 

 blowing with much greater violence. There is no instance in this hur- 

 ricane of any vessel having been becalmed while the centre of the vortex 

 was passing ; so that we must either suppose that there was no calm 

 at the centre, or that no vessel passed directly through it. This is 

 a distinction worth being borne in mind for future guidance. 



