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wind fell suddenly calm which lasted 15 minutes. The barometer was then at its lowest point and read 29.33. The wind came again from S and blew hard for a short time, but at 4 P. the barometer having risen to 29.57, the wind had decreased to a strong S breeze. The centre therefore passed over or just to the N of Swatow just after 3 p., but it must at once have commenced to fill up on entering the coast even if it had not done so to some extent, while crossing the channel.
Several vessels, the steamships Tailee, Fushun, Lyderhorn and Jacob Christensen, also the ship Celeste Burrill, experienced winds of typhoon force from NE in the northern part of the Formoss Channel on the morning of the 19th. The S. S. Chunshan, approaching Swatow from the S at noon, encountered a fierce WNW gale. She turned back and ran to the Southward and then had much better weather.
On the evening of the 19th the wind at Swatow backed from S to SE while at Hongkong the direction remained from N to NW. At Victoria Peak a strong N breeze prevailed. The barometer was rising. At Canton a moderate N breeze was blowing and the barometer had fallen since the morning. At sea to the S of Swatow moderate S breezes prevailed.
Next morning, the 20th, a complete change of wind direction had occurred at Victoria Peak, Hongkong, where a moderate to fresh SE breeze now blew in place of the strong N breezes of the previous evening. The direction of the lower clouds as observed at Hongkong Observatory had also changed from A to SE. Light airs from NW to W and SE prevailed there, and at Gap Rock light breezes from N and NNW. At Canton gentle breezes from N and NE prevailed. The barometer was rising, but slowly, at Hongkong. The Swatow observations indicate that the disturbance, which had no doubt filled considerably, was pursuing a W or WSW course on the evening of the 19th, and the observations at Hongkong and neighbouring stations indicate that the remains of the late typhoon was drifting over this locality on the morning of the 20th as a diffused depression. It would appear that it passed out to sea spreading towards the S and probably increased slightly in intensity, as during the evening of the 20th and morning of the 21st the barometer fell slightly in Hongkong and a moderate E gale was experienced.
On the 21st the Hoihow observations furnish a trace of the depression. At this station very heavy rain fell throughout the day with gentle and light breezes veering from N in the morning to SE at night. The barometer fell very slightly. The steamships Invertay and Glengyle experienced strong NE gales with a slight fall in the barometer on the evening of the 21st to the S of Hongkong in about 19° latitude.
On the 23rd at 10.40 a.
"There are indications of a depression in the Pacific to the E of the Balingtang Channel." At 11.0 a. Forecast: "barometer falling: moderate NE and N winds: fair." On the 23rd at 4.20 p. "The depression appears to be moving towards NW." On the 24th at
Forecast: "barometer unsteady: moderate to fresh N winds: fair." On the 24th at 4.45 p. Red Drum hoisted. apparently moving towards NNW." At 11.0 a. winds: fair.'
11.0 a.
11
4.
On the 25th at 10.40 a. Typhoon in Formosa Forecast: "barometer steady or rising fresh NW
On the 26th at 10.40 a. Black Drum hoisted. "The typhoon lies a little to the East of Swatow. It is apparently filling up and probably moving slowly towards W or WSW at present." At 11.0 a. Forecast: "strong N winds: squally with rain."
On the 26th at 1 p. "The centre of the typhoon has passed a little to the S of Swatow, moving westward. Strong NW winds, perhaps a gale, may blow in longkong to-night unless the centre fills up before reaching here." At 6.15 p.
At 6.15 p. Two lanterns hoisted vertically. On the 27th at 10.40 a. Black South Cone hoisted. "The depression appears to be now situated to the SE of Hongkong. It Forecast: barometer continues filling up and is apparently moving towards SW." At 11.0 a. rising slowly: fresh to strong NE breezes: wet and squally."
On the 28th at 10.30 a. Black South Cone lowered.
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On the 22nd a trough was found to be formed lying through about 17, 110" and through the Balingtang Channel. The past typhoon probably gave rise to the western portion of this trough as it disappeared therein, and the next typhoon (XIII) seems to have had its origin in the eastern part of this trough.
On the 23rd pressure decreased about 0.05 inch in Luzon and on the SE coast of China; Sharp Peak had 29.81, Amoy 29.77, Hongkong 29.81 and Bolinao 29.72. Winds were moderate from È to NE between Hongkong and Foochow and light from W at Bolinao and Manila. The S.S. Ask at, Anping (S Formosa) had moderate to strong N breezes with fine weather, but the barometer had commenced to fall. The depression may have been central at noon in 19° to 20° and 125o.
On the 24th a further fall of the mercury had occurred on the SE coast of China and in Luzon amounting to about 0.05 inch in the former district but slightly less in the latter. Sharp Peak now had 29.75, Amoy 29.72, Hongkong 29.77 and Bolinao 29.70. Moderate breezes prevailed from WNW at Bolinao, from SW at Manila and from N to NE on the SE coast of China. Captain HYGOM of the S.S. Ask lying at Anping suspected a typhoon to the SE and he left the roadstead at daylight to get shelter at the Pescadores. The wind had increased to a strong breeze from N by E with the barometer