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0.2 inch above the normal. Pressure had also increased on the SE and S Coasts (Sharp Peak 29.91- Hongkong 29.85) but conditions as to pressure were almost normal in these districts on the morning of the 18th. In Luzon the barometer (Bolinao 29.73) had been slightly low for the past few days. Strong NE monsoon prevailed at this time on the East Coast of China and at the N entrance to the Formosa Channel while in the China Sea to the S of Hongkong it was moderate. In the SW part of the China Sea in about 6, 107° the barometer read 29.90, winds being moderate and fresh breezes from W and SW.
The afternoon observations made at the Coast Stations on the 18th showed a slight fall of the mercury
in Luzon, winds being light breezes from W at Bolinao and from SW at Manila; but a more marked decrease had occurred at Amoy where the wind was a moderate breeze from NE. From observations made on board H. M. S's Pique and Peacock and the S.S. Thales and also from those made and kindly forwarded by Mr. A. W. BAIN, of Auping, we know that a typhoon was rapidly advancing towards S Forniosa from the SE on the morning of the 18th, the probable position of the centre at noon on this day being 21°, 122" or about 70 miles to the ESE of S. Cape. Information from the Pacific area is wanting with the exception of observations made on board the Russian S. S. Saratow near S Formosa, but the observations rather point to this disturbance having been rather quickly formed in a region of slightly low pressure lying to the E of the Bashee Channel, the chief agency in its formation probably "being the rapid increase of pressure to the Northward and the consequent advance of strong NE monsoon to the Southward. The S. S. Suratow at 8 p. in 23° 20',
121° 50′ had 29.26 E 11.
The observations made by Mr. BAIN at Anping show that the barometer began to fall rather quickly after 9 a. on the 18th, the wind being moderate from N but increasing to a strong breeze at DOON. After 8 p. the barometer fell very rapidly and a heavy N gale was then blowing which increased to typhoon force from N to NE at 10 p. The barometer attained its lowest point, 29.29, at 1 a. of“ the 19th. Between 2 a. and 3 a. the wind shifted gradually to SE. Very little rain fell. Consider- able damage to houses and godowns resulted. From observations made at Takow and kindly for- warded by Mr. BAIN it is seen that the centre passed over that port at 0.30 a. on the 19th. The barometer fell from 29.94 at 8 a. on the 18th to 29.30 at midnight, the wind being from NNW and N till the evening, when it veered to NE. The mercury descended to its lowest point, 28.90, at 0.30 a. on the 19th, ie., it fell no less than 0.4 inch in half an hour, at the same time the wind veered to SSE. The barometer readings made at Takow are uncorrected, but are believed to require a negative correction of between 0.1 and 0.2 inch.
H. M. S.'s Pique and Peacock and the S. S. Thales got up steam on the morning of the Sth and left the open roadstead of Anping for shelter at about 2 p., but they were too late and all encountered ' the storm. The S. S. Thales made but little progress against the N gale and at 7 p. she was hove to on the starboard tack in the right-hand semicircle. Winds of storm and typhoon force from N by E were experienced between 9 p. of the 18th and 2.30 a. of the 19th. At the latter hour the baro- meter showed the minimum, 28.98, and shortly afterwards the wind veered to E, but at 4 a. it had decreased to a fresh gale froin S. The centre passed at a distance of about 10 miles only to the SSW of the vessel at 3 a. Her position at this hour is given as 23° 9', 119° 36'. H. M. S. Peacock after steering towards WNW was hove to at 6p. At 10.30 p., the barometer, 29.48, was falling rapidly with the wind at N of storm, force. The vessel was then run to the SW. At 1 a. the barometric minimum, 29.34, occurred, but it remained almost steady until after 4 a. The wind. in the left-hand semicircle, backed to WNW at 2 a. and continued to blow with storm force from this direction until after 4 a. when it backed to WSW.
The centre, which was situated in 23° 00', 119° 35′ at 3 a. passed about 25 miles to the NE of the vessel at this hour. It was therefore situated between the position of the Thales and that of the Peacock, but nearer to the former than to the latter. Both vessels sustained considera ble damage.
H. M. S. Pique ran to SW by S at 6 p. on the 18th, but nevertheless experienced a fierce gale with squalls of typhoon force from N on the evening of the 18th but backing to WNW and WSW next morning.
The disturbance was moving towards W by N on the morning of the 19th and at noon the position of the centre is fixed by the observations made on board the steamships Victoria and Monmouthshire. The Victoria encountered the centre at noon in 23° 22′, 117° 54. The wind which had been blowing a fierce gale (direction not stated but presumably from NW) fell calm at noon, the sky, however, remained overcast and threatening and there was a high topping sea. The barometer read 29.14 uncorrected. At. 1.30 p, the wind suddenly freshened and blew a strong gale from S with terrific squalls. The S. S. Monmouthshire passed the Lamocks bound North at 3 a.
The wind was, light from NW and W and rain commenced falling. A large number of birds flew on board making a most horrible noise. At 6 a. the barometer read 29.68, the wind was of force 6 and the sea very confused. Half an hour later they ran into a heavy NE gale with mountainous sea and torrents of rain. At 8 a. it was blowing a hurricane from NE which continued until after noon when the barometer was at its lowest point, 29.02. Overhead there was some clearing of the clouds at this time.
At p. the wind veered to ESE with fast rising barometer, and at 2 p. the wind had decreased to a fresh gale from SE. At the latter hour a fierce gale from NW was blowing at Swatow and one hour later the