Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 485

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decreasing to a strong breeze at noon. The observations are from the log of the Fokien at anchor in the port. NE fresh increasing breezes were felt at the east coast stations with the weather becoming wet and the barometer falling. Fine weather with almost steady barometer prevailed along the Yangtze.

The centre of the typhoon entered Formosa soon after passing to the west of S Cape and moved northward but it at once commenced filling up. An inspection of the detailed observations printed elsewhere shows that two maxima of wind force and two minima of the barometric readings were observed by some stations or vessels near the N entrance to the Channel, the first occurring before the centre entered the land, when the depression at the centre was excessive, and the second as it approached the station or vessel in its diminished intensity. Some stations do not exactly show the two minima of the barometric readings, but it is seen that the barometer remained steady or almost steady for some hours as the typhoon approached, showing clearly that it was filling up as it advanced towards them. With respect to the wind force this is perhaps not so distinctly seen except in the case of the observations recorded on board the Fokien lying at Tamsui, the gradients existing for N winds being excessively steep the whole time owing to the comparatively high pressure prevailing over the interior of China. In fact the chief characteristic of this typhoon in the latter part of its course was the effect produced by the combination of a strong monsoon and the winds due to the typhoon itself and a reference to the detailed observations shows that in the left hand semi-circle the wind in most cases backed but very slightly as the typhoon approached and passed northward. Its influence quickly disappeared and the prevailing N wind was soon again experienced. At Tamsui in the right hand semi-circle N winds were established a few hours after the centre passed the station.

During the afternoon and evening of the 10th October the centre was moving about N by W inland on the west side of Formosa. The lowest reading of the barometer was registered at both Takow and Anping at 6 p., the reading at the former station being 28.91 and at the latter 29.00. The centre was about 20 miles ESE of Takow at the time and it is evident from these observations that a great change had already taken place as regards the depth at the centre during its passage over the land. Whole gales were blowing at both stations from NNE at Anping and between NNE and N at Takow with overcast sky and gloomy appearance at both stations. At Fisher Island about 70 miles NW by N of Takow the lowest reading of the barometer was 29.06 at 4 p. and the wind was of typhoon force from the NNE.

During the six hours from 6 p. until midnight the typhoon moved very slowly, its rate of progress northwards being diminished by the friction caused by the hilly country to the East of Takow and Anping and also to the strength of the N winds blowing into it, being penned up so to speak by the high mountain chain to the eastward, and at this time the depression at the centre was again much reduced. At 9 p. it was about 20 miles to the East of Takow and at midnight about the same distance E by S of Anping. A strong N gale blew at Takow during the evening with rain and rising barometer. At Anping the wind veered to NE of force 10 at 9 p. continuing the same direction but moderating to force 8 at midnight. From 3 p. to 9 p. it blew with full typhoon force in the squalls. Rain set in at 11 p. Mr. STRANGMAN, the observer, adds: "Considerable damage has been done to the roofs of foreign houses, large quantities of tiles having been blown away. Many native houses are level with the ground. The shipping did not suffer, the water being low.' At Fisher Island typhoon force continued until 8 p. from NNE after which hour it decreased to force 11 remaining thus until midnight. Drizzling rain commenced at 9 p. and rain at 10 p.

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The weather during the afternoon and evening of the 10th October in other districts was as follows. At Hongkong light to moderate NNW breezes with rising barometer, and fine weather prevailed. Some c-str cloud was observed to come from the NNW. At Victoria Peak fresh to strong NNW breezes were blowing. In the neighbourhood of Swatow moderate to strong NW breezes were blowing with rising barometer and cloudy sky. At Chapel Island there was a strong N backing and decreasing gale with drizzling rain commencing at midnight. At Turnabout the wind increased in force during the afternoon and blew with typhoon force the whole evening from N and NNE, with occasional drizzling rain. The barometer showed a slight fall when the daily variation is allowed for between 3 p., and 10 p., but after the latter hour it fell rather faster again as the typhoon advanced northward. At Tamsui there was a fresh NNE breeze increasing towards midnight with heavy rain squalls at times and falling barometer. The barometer was falling slowly on the East Coast and the wind increasing in force from the NE and rain was falling in the southern part of the district. There was a very slight decrease of pressure at the Yangtze stations where light to moderate NE breezes prevailed and very fine weather.

Some account of the experiences of vessels at sea on October 10th may now be given

The schooner Santa Cruz to the Eastward of Luzon in 16°, 127°, approximately, had S winds and squally weather. The Cosmopolit near Iloilo in the morning had strong S to SW breezes and wet squally weather with rising barometer. The Taksang off the SW coast of Luzon had W to WNW moderate breezes, squally weather and heavy N sea during the evening. Fresh NNW breezes and moderate gales were experienced during the morning by vessels approaching Hongkong from the