PHENOMENA AT SEA, jj 



seems just. The waves, (or swell) maybe generated by 

 a strong wind which has to contend with another blowing 

 in opposition to it ; this is frequently observed at sea ; 

 (seamen call it two winds fighting against each other) 

 when this is the case, the velocity of a strong wind is 

 greatly retarded, and its progress very slow whilst op- 

 posed by a breeze, although the latter be much inferior 

 in strength : — and it frequently happens that a gentle 

 breeze is prevalent over a strong wind, when the supply 

 of the latter does not continue strong a sufficient length 

 of time. The limit where two winds oppose each other, Opposing 

 is sometimes observed to alter its position very little in ^'in'ls. 

 two or three hours ; a ship may continue to have a 

 strong wind on one side of this limit for a considerable 

 time, whilst a ship on the other side experiences a steady 

 breeze from the opposite direction. It will therefore be 

 easily comprehended, that when a strong wind has to 

 overcome another wind, blowing in opposition to it, 

 the velocity of the former must be slow until the latter 

 is subdued, although the waves may speedily be agitated, 

 and receive an impulse from it, by which they may 

 greatly precede the wind that caused their formation. 

 On the contrary, when a strong wind is diffused from the 

 atmosphere, having no other wind to oppose it, the ve- 

 locity of such must be greater than that of the waves 

 formed by it; and consequently will precede the 

 i waves. 



In September 1802, there was a storm on the south instance. 

 coast of China, in which a Spanish frigate and the Nauti- 

 lus of Calcutta were lost. We were about five degrees 

 from the coast at the time ; had pleasant weather and 

 little wind : — A high swell reached us, by which we were 

 (I may say) certain that a storm had happened on the 

 coast ; and on our arrival in a few days afterwards, found 

 it had been so. 



In December 1803, at anchor on the eastern sea-reef, A storm from 

 at the entrance of Hooghley river, a gale of wind com- {J^^ ^- ^^^^^ a^ 

 tncnced, and blew from the northward, off the land: at fro^m^the^a at 

 the same time a heavy squall came rolling in from the theS, 

 sea, directly in opposition to the prevailing wind ; this 

 caused an apprehension that the gale would change sud- 

 denly, 



