'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎18] (121/496)

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I must defer the comments which naturally present themselves to our
mind regarding the Barometrical condition of the air, deposition of
vapour, electrical phenomena, velocity of the wind, state of the sea,
and other equally interesting points in the Theory of Storms, and
which have far more attraction in an abstract point of view than the
dry repetition of facts w’hich has jnst been concluded. So far we
have altogether adhered to a relation of the ciicumstances which tend
to exhibit the revolving nature of the gale, its extent, line of progres
sion, and daily rate of travelling along the coast, as bearing on the
practical object of all such inquiries,—that of enabling vessels to shun
similar danger in future.
Poona, 3rd August, 1847. Alexander Thom.
Additional Comments on the late Malabar Hurricane of April, 1847.
In the preceding stages of this investigation, our view has been whol
ly directed towards the practical advantage likely to accrue from a
knowledge of the Rotatory Gales that occasionally visit the Western
Coast of India. If great precision has not been attained regarding
the late Malabar Hurricane, we think it has, nevertheless, been shewn
to have unfolded itself in all the terrible majesty, and with the integ
rity and permanency of action, which belong to similar phenomena in
other regions of the globe. The extent of the circle, the direction
of its rotation, path, and rate of progression, are the points of most
vital importance in navigation ; and, generally speaking, the sea and
sky will not fail to give forth unerring indications of the proximity of
a tempest in ample time to enable the vigilant mariner to shun the
passing or approaching danger : or, if hampered in a narrow chan
nel, to use early precautions to meet it.
In a purely scientific point of view, there is very little to add, on
the present occasion, that can be considered as exact; for the various
extracts, notes, and scraps of information, before us, rather point at
general principles by their concordance in the aggregate than by any
separate importance which they possess. To the lovers of abstract
knowledge, we are inclined to offer a few observations on the relation
between the various phenomena usually developed during a circular
storm and their probable connexion with the primary causes,—more,
however, for the purpose of exciting an interest in the subject in the
minds of those who may hereafter have opportunities of forwarding