1842.] A Sixth Memoir on the Law of Storms in India. 677 



ed away, so as to be lighter in swimming, and there we hung in 

 a most miserable state from 6 to about 11a. m., when we were driven 

 into the surf by the sea and current. Having the fore- top-sail set, 

 and fore-sail hanging down, it assisted us greatly in getting sooner in 

 shore, and most miraculously and providentially, we were driven into 

 a very small sandy Bay, on each side of which were tremendous preci- 

 pices of rocks, where if we had gone, all hands would have been dashed 

 to pieces, and none left to tell the tale; but the mercy of God is great, 

 and I am truly thankful for the saving of our lives. When we got 

 into the surf, it was running so very high, and carrying every thing 

 before it, that those of the people who could swim well, got hold of 

 some boxe3 and spars, and took to the water for their lives. The brig 

 very soon went all to pieces in the tremendous surf, and every body 

 was washed hither and thither ; most fortunately they all got on 

 shore safe, but bruised.*' After being plundered and suffering much, 

 the Captain and Crew reached Canton. 



Captain Biden adds to this Log, the following Remarks 



I was at Macao during the hurricane in which the Bee was wreck- 

 ed, it raged with great violence accompanied with incessant rain, the 

 sea broke over the Praya Grande, and doors and windows on the 

 ground floor of the houses on the Praya Grande were in many in- 

 stances burst open with the violence of the wind and sea together. 

 The shipping in the Cum-sing-moon and Cap-sing-moon rode out the 

 tremendous gale with yards and topmasts struck and with two anchors 

 a-head. Several ships at Whampoa Reach dragged their anchors, and 

 although the Chinese were as usual well prepared, by hauling their 

 boats into every islet and creek between Macao and Canton, much 

 loss and damage was sustained on the river. 



We will now consider the track, which I have assigned to this storm. 



The data for it are complicated by two circumstances, the first that we 

 do not know, with the Virginia, when the S. Westerly monsoon replaced 

 the S. Westerly gale, (which she found as of course on the S. E. qua- 

 drant of the storm,) and with the Bee that a storm coming, as this un- 

 doubtedly did from the S. Eastward, and impinging upon the high 

 South Coast of China at so direct an angle as it must have done, must 

 have been subject, at short distances from the Coast, (and the Bee was 

 only 42 miles from the nearest point at noon on the 9th,) to great 



irregularities; of which we have abundant instances. 



4 u 



