358 Scientific Intelligence. [No. 8, new seeies. 



Mr. W. M. Cadell, Collector of Tanjore, reported on the 29th 

 April 1859, as follows : — 



" It is with much regret I have to state for the further intimation 

 of Government that the reports which have since reached me shew 

 that the weather was much more severe in other parts of the dis- 

 trict than I had represented, and that a hurricane seems to have 

 prevailed in the neighbourhood of Negapatam which has been at- 

 tended with the most disastrous consequences both to life and pro- 

 perty. 



'* During the height of the hurricane, the British barque " Mo- 

 narch" which had sailed for Penang from Negapatam on the 22d 

 instant, with 200 coolies on board, came in contact with the Bri- 

 tish ship " Ballynceich" bound from Calcutta to Glasgow, and 

 both ships were so disabled that they immediately came ashore 

 about 8 miles to the south of Negapatam. The crews of both 

 vessels were for the most part saved, but one has since died from 

 the building, where he was lodging in Negapatam having fallen 

 in. The coolies were, I regret to say, nearly all drowned. In ad- 

 dition to these vessels, and those mentioned in my letter of the 26th 

 instant, from 30 to 35 vessels and those chiefly square rigged ones 

 have been wrecked between this and Calimere, but the crews have, 

 I believe, nearly all been saved. 



" The hurricane seems to have prevailed with the greatest vio- 

 lence in the latitude of Negapatam, but its force seems to have di- 

 minished in proportion as the distance from the sea was more remote. 

 Many houses and trees have, however, been blown down in all 

 parts of the district and the rain fall, as far as I can yet learn 

 seems nowhere to have been less than from 15 to 20 inches, a 

 quantity, I believe, altogether unprecedented at this season of the 

 year. ^ 



" Reports have also reached me that several of the river banks 

 have again given way, and the communication between Tanjore 

 and the eastward is again interrupted, the Tappal having in one 

 place to be brought on a raft. 



" From the discoloured appearance of the sea to a considerable 

 distance from the shore, I conclude that the rivers are all in full 



