'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎3] (104/496)

3
In apologizing for the imperfections which may be found in the
following pages, the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. must add that many insurmountable dif
ficulties to the attainment of his object came in the way, chiefly
owing to his distance from the sources of information at Bombay
and shipping in its harbour, and thus being deprived of the means of
having suspected or palpable errors and discrepancies explained or
corrected. He has to express his sincere thanks to those—many of
whom are perfect strangers to him—who have so warmly seconded his
endeavours to collect the requisite information ; especially to Mr.
Norman Oliver, of the Master-Attendant’s Office at Bombay, and
Captain Lynch, I. N., to whom he is indebted for most of the logs of
vessels, as well as to other Officers of the Indian Navy. He has also
to acknowledge the interesting communications received from Captain
MacGregor, of the Buckinghamshire, and those forwarded by Doctor
St. John at Madras, and Doctor Rae at Ceylon, Deputy—Inspectors of
H. M/s troops. Surgeon MacGregor, of H. M. 25th regiment, also
kindly collected the information connected with the storm at Canna-
nore and its neighbourhood.
Poona, 10£A September, 1847* A. T.
In an attempt to gather the more important facts connected with
the late disastrous Gale on the Malabar Coast, my expectations have
been somewhat disappointed ; however, I still anticipate the acquisition
of more complete and satisfactory details than those which have yet
come to hand. In the meantime, while the event is yet fresh in our
memory, a few remarks on the subject may be acceptable to some of
your readers, and perhaps elicit additional information tending to
elucidate obscure points, or correct any errors into which I may inad
vertently have fallen.
It is not necessary to the subject to comment on the calamitous con
sequences of the tempest, as, in its progress from Ceylon to Scinde, it
travelled along the Western Ghauts of India, uprooting the giants of
the forest, deluging the plains, and spreading desolation among the
habitations of man ; while, with a fury that was perfectly appalling, it
swept the neighbouring ocean and strewed the coasts with the wreck
of vessels and human bodies. Apart from the fearful loss of life and
amount of suffering, the immense destruction of property occasioned
by the gale would be a sufficient reason for seeking to forward our
knowledge of these terrible phenomena, and from thence to deduce
some rational means of averting the evils incidental to their recur-
i