716 A Sixth Memoir on the Law of Storms in India. [No. 127. 



able report in my Fourth Memoir.* This ship hove to very carefully 

 on the southern verge of her storm, which was beyond question a 

 rotatory one, and when it had passed her she bore up, and in crossing 

 the track of the centre, she had the sea heavier than during the gale ! 

 Those who have remarked the effect of a whirlwind crossing a river or 

 a lake, or that of a water spout passing near a ship, will recognise the 

 value of this kind of proof. See also Col. Reid's Work, 2d edition, pp. 

 474 and 475. 



Of the rates at which the storms travel we have very little evidence. 

 In all the instances in which there appears to be any ground for a fair 

 inference I have given it. From 7 to 24 miles per hour, appear to 

 be at present the limits. 



As to the circular, or nearly circular form of the vortices, we have 

 I think, abundant evidence. I have again and again, from the logs, 

 projected with every allowance the courses and drifts of the ships, and 

 nothing but the circular theory would account for the winds. Where 

 shifts of wind have taken place, as also where ships have been at 

 a distance, or on opposite sides of a storm, the same rule holds good. 



The law for the rotation in one direction, will also I think, be found 

 always to have held good, and that the supposition of the rotation in a 

 contrary course would wholly contradict our data. 



One or two other peculiarities remain to be noticed, and the first 

 of these is the occurrence of what may be called double storms, or two 

 storms at the same time travelling on tracks converging towards 

 each other. The Golconda's (two Thetis' Storm Tracks, No. XXVI. 

 and XXVII.) are a remakable instance of this, and it is a contingency 

 which should not be forgotten by the careful mariner in forming his 

 judgment. 



The next is the remarkable abatement in the violence of the weather 

 which appears often to take place a few hours after the storm has com- 

 menced, but without any change of the wind or rise of the barometer, 

 and only lasting an hour or two, when it comes on to blow again from 

 the same quarter harder than ever. Old seamen are usually aware 

 of this treacherous peculiarity, but it is one which may sometimes 

 deceive, and thus deserves to be noticed. 



* See also the Table at p. 694, 23d September, at midnight. 



