'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎20] (123/496)

20
points of its course as far as Shikarpoor and Sukkur. The tract of
ocean near the South-west end of Ceylon would seem to be the place
where the stormy commotion first acquired a defined form ; from
whence it travelled Northward along the middle of the channel form
ed by the Maidive and Lac One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees cadive Islands on one side, and the coast
of Ceylon and India on the other.
On the latter, its devastating effects are well known ; and on the
former we learn from the private letter of a friend that “ the hurri-
“ cane being from the East and N.E., the sea washed over a large
“ portion of the Islands. Two were nearly totally destroyed. The
“whole population had been forced to escape from them, and on one
“ island alone the loss of cocoanut trees amounted to twenty thou-
“ sand.” The gale was partially felt among the Laccadives : the east
ernmost, in all probability, suffered most. We also see by the Bom
bay Times (18th August,) that several of the Maldives were overflow
ed by the sea, and the inhabitants had to escape in boats ; and are
stated to have been at sea for many days, suffering great privations,
before they reached the neighbouring islands.
Diurnal Bate of Progress .—The diurnal progression of the storm
may be calculated from the successive positions of the vortex at noom
Having its formation to the Southward or S.W. of Ceylon, its on
ward movement was scarcely perceptible ; but after the 14th, this
may be calculated to have been nearly as follows viz*
■^ a ^ e ' Distance. Direction.
From 14th to 15th 108 miles, or 4^- miles per hour.
NearShi-
karpore
16th
129
17th
205
81
18th
220
9i
19 th
160
6#
20th
140
o
51
24th
480
5
N.N.W. | W.
N.N.W. | W.
N.N.W. i W.
N. by W. ^ W.
Northerly.
The distances from 16th to the 20th, are very near the truth, but
from the latter to the 24th, when the focus was in the vicinity of Shi-
k/!, 1 l )00r ’ we have assumed that it followed a due northerly direction,
till its real path be ascertained.
It is quite impossible to define the limits of the hurricane, or to
c its diametei, because, as in other cases, the violence of the wind