'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎4] (105/496)

4
rence. It is true that the Arabian sea is rarely subject to such visita
tions, but this ought to be an incentive not to let so favourable an
opportunity slip without collecting all that is known on the subject.
Since the storm of 20th April, 1780, noticed by Horsburgh, perhaps
none has ever devastated the Western Coast of India with such severity
at that of last April—also about the 20th of the month.
It is much to be regretted that while the tempestuous movements of
our atmosphere create a keen interest in the inquiring mind, and are
of profound importance to mankind, yet it so happens that the means
of discovering their real nature are unattractive, dry, and laborious:
at least it would appear so from the neglect with which the whole
subject has hitherto been treated, in spite of the exertions of Mr.
Redfield, Colonel Reid, Mr. Piddington of Calcutta, and a few
others. Perhaps one great reason of this arises from the difficulty which
the student in this branch of science encounters from the absolute ne
cessity of being dependant on others for details, which too often turn
out to be loose, erroneous, or contradictory, and generally the result
of casual or misdirected observation. The astronomer can seize with
in the grasp of his observation the remote object of his study, and
alone, night by night, trace its path along the heavens, measure its
orbit, and compute its distance. In the laboratory, the chemist is
enabled, unaided, to analyze the most crude piece of matter, and
render up its simple components in all their purity. Even the geo
logist, independent of others, may pursue his investigations in the
primeval forces of earth : to him the sleeping volcano, river, mountain,
and chancelled plain, respectively tell their tale in silence.
Widely different is the case in regard to the study of storms ; for here
it becomes necessary to accumulate the cotemporary information of
many observers who have accidentally been scattered over a vast ex
panse of land or sea, and who were often careless, ignorant, or un
acquainted with what they ought to notice. Hence trivial points are
often carefully recorded, while the more important, and even more
common, phenomena are unheeded. The consequence is, that, al
though the Theory of Hurricanes is now pretty well established, it is
fai fiom possessing that exactitude which belongs to many other
branches of knowledge, and which can only be attained by an ex
tensive system of obseivation, carried out by competent persons and
good instruments. This, however, can only be achieved by the
interference of one or more Governments.