1851.] A Twentieth Memoir on the Law of Storms, 33 



There had been much rain on the morning and evening of the 26th April, 

 and towards night it was accompanied by strong wind from the North East. 

 This wind kept increasing until 3 a. m. of the 27th, when it became a hurricane, 

 which continued blowing from the same direction for some time, viz. from the 

 North East. Furious as it was at 3 a. m. it kept increasing in violence until 

 between 8 and 10 a. m. when it had veered gradually round to the East, and a 

 very few points to the South of East, and attained its height of violence. 

 After which (although blowing very violently until 2 p. m.) it gradually dimi- 

 nished in force and veered round by the South to the South West, and became 

 the usual South West Monsoon. It was fortunate that it began from the North 

 East, as that kept the sea off the Coast of Hidgellee at first, and afterwards 

 when the hurricane had attained its height or rather before the tide began to 

 ebb, otherwise much more damage would have ensued to the bunds, and to the 

 country by inundation. 



I am inclined to think that the gale blew more furiously at Beercool than 

 elsewhere, it certainly did so in comparison with what occurred to the North- 

 ward, but I have not information to allow of my making a comparison with 

 its effects to the South. 



The bungalow in which I was residing was situated within 100 ft. of the 

 edge of a range of sand hills which here line the Coast. That portion of 

 the sand hills on which the bungalow stands is 13| ft. above the high Spring 

 tide mark, but on each side of it the hills diminish in height about 2 ft. 

 During the storm the sand in front of the bungalow was cut away as far as the 

 bungalow at the South East corner, from which two small rooms were un- 

 dermined and fell into the sea, and within 25 ft. at the South West corner 

 the sea rose to a height of 1 1 ft. high and passed over the sand hills right and 

 left of the bungalow which were of this height, and the spray was dashed into 

 the verandah and rooms of the bungalow. As I said before, the ebbing of the 

 tide came at a most opportune time to prevent the sea from getting over the sand 

 hills in larger quantities and for a longer time. 



The roof was denuded of thatch in many places and the violent moving of 

 the whole frame of the roof cracked the five verandah pillars and pulled a tie- 

 beam out of the wall. Every room except the N. W. bathing room leaked, and 

 a large quantity of salt water had been dashed into all but this room. I 

 momentarily expected the frame work of the roof to give way and fall in, but 

 luckily the rafters and frame kept their places. 



Two Out houses were blown down ; roof, walls and all. A third, was very 

 much injured, but managed to remain standing, though in a tottering condition. 



The Government embankments were overtopped and breached in all direc- 

 tions between the Diggea Mohun and the Peechurbunnee Khali, and the country 



p 



