38 A Twentieth Memoir on the Law of Storms. [No. 8. 



The reports from the Coast to the Southward describe the storm to have been 

 similar in character and direction to what I have above described, while to 

 the Northward, the gale appears to have veered from N. to E. and S. E. and 

 finally broken up at S. Its general direction as indicated by the results was 

 from S. to N. In consequence of this storm having occurred during the height 

 of the spring tides, several parts of the Coast, especially near the mouths of 

 rivers were inundated by the sea. Dhamrah, Bhograi and Kamardachour (at 

 the mouth of the Soobunreka) suffered most in this respect. The reported loss 

 of life is small, amounting to not more than eight or ten persons, and of these 

 several were children crushed by the falling of walls. Three cases of death by 

 drowning are included in these ; the loss of cattle has been considerable, about 

 250 to 300 are said to have been drowned by the inundation, principally those 

 in Dhamrah, besides these many are said to have been drowned by being 

 driven by the West wind into the sea, the number of these is estimated at 400 

 to 500, but this is probably greatly exaggerated. 

 Extracts from a letter from H. Baillie, Esq. M. D. Civil Surgeon and 



Salt Agent at Hidgellee, forwarded by C. Beadon, Esq. Secy. 



Board of Salt and Opium. 



The day previous to the storm of the 27th ult., the wind was light and East- 

 erly, the afternoon of that day we had drizzling rain which increased towards 

 night. About 5£ o'clock the morning of the gale it was raining, and the wind 

 even then blowing with unusual force from the East, it gradually increased in 

 violence till about 9 o'clock, when it raged a perfect hurricane. At intervals of 

 a few minutes, a blast would pass, shaking the walls of the house I was in, this 

 state of matters continued till past eleven when the wind shifted to the South, 

 and later in the day to the South West, where it settled. So soon as the wind 

 changed its course from the East, the decrease of its force was plainly percep- 

 tible ; still, even when South Westerly, an occasional gust would occur. 



From subsequent examination of places in this district which were subjected 

 to the influence of the Cyclone, I assume that it was severest in Beercool Per- 

 gunnah, which lies to the South West of Contai, this opinion is strengthened 

 by the following circumstance ; that of the three ghauts* of this agency, the 

 greatest amount of injury to buildings happened at Ramnuggur. The golahsf 

 at all these depots are constructed of similar materials, are of about the same 

 size, and situated alike, having their ends North and South, and their flanks 

 East and West, so that the extent of surface offered by them to the wind would 

 be nearly equal in each instance. 



At Russoolpore, 8 miles E. N. E. of Contai, no damage to the golahs was 

 experienced. 



* Anglice, places for embarkation, f Golahs, store-houses. 



