1845.] Fourteenth Memoir on the Law of Storms in India. S93 



Baticolo and Tuticoreen. 



From the Colombo Observer of the 15th and 18th, I collect the 

 following notices of the storm at the above named places, the notice of 

 the 1 8th is a well written letter, evidently by a careful observer at Bati- 

 colo, and I have used the other notices only to supply a few words. 



Batticaloa* — This place was visited by a most fearful hurricane on the 

 night of the 1st instant. The day had been very wet and stormy with 

 squalls from the NE., but this was considered as no more than the 

 usual monsoon. However, about midnight, it began to blow with great 

 fury from the NW., or along the coast, with heavy rain. About half-past 

 2 a. m. of the 2nd, the wind shifted round to the opposite quarter, and 

 after a short but ominous lull, blew with truly terrific violence from 

 the South and SE., occasioning wide spread, and almost universal, 

 destruction of trees and native houses, and even of bungalows. The 

 roaring and hollow moaning\ (as noticed by many) of the hurricane, the 

 incessant dash of the rain, and a complication of other noises, were most 

 dismal, but in fact even the crash of thousands of falling trees could 

 not be distinctly heard, though it must have added to the general uproar. 

 No body could say if it thundered, but a great light was observed at 

 one period of the storm, which probably was caused by some electric 

 explosion. The hurricane did not extend to the country at the most 

 Southern extremity of the lake of Batticaloa. 



Tuticoreen. — The effects of the gale are thus described in a letter 

 dated the 4th instant (December.) The gale commenced about 8 p. m. 

 (the date is not given, but in the paper of the 15th, the Florist is said to 

 have been lost on the night of the 2nd,) and raged with unremitting fury 

 till 3 a. m., after which it abated, and about sunrise there was a compa- 

 rative calm. The wind was from SE. accompanied with torrents of 

 rain. During the night the ship Florist, of 538 tons, was driven on 

 shore. 



For the following observations from Palamcottah, Cochin, Trevandrum, 

 Quilon and Alleppy, I am indebted to Major General Cullen. 



* This is no doubt the correct spelling, but Horsburgh, and all the charts use Baticolo, 

 which I have therefore preferred. 



f I have noticed this before (VI 1th and Xlth Memoirs, and Horn Book of Storms,) 

 there is no doubt that it does occur in hurricanes very frequently. Is it an electric 

 phenomenon, analogous to the remarkable rumbling which proceeds a hail storm 

 in India, and often in Europe ? 



6 c 



