I20 Voyage of the Novara. 



only by a fortunate chance. Now, had her commander con- 

 sidered this storm to have been a real hurricane he would have 

 undoubtedly steered a different course, and probably in that 

 case would have reached the harbour in safety. But the notion 

 of the non-existence of hurricanes in these waters is so perti- 

 naciously maintained that it was no wonder the careful and able 

 Spanish commander had also been misled. Our own opinion is, 

 that any storm in the ocean may assume a revolving motion, 

 and it is therefore highly advisable always to bear in mind the 

 well-founded theory of cyclones, in order to act upon it, as cir- 

 cumstances may require. Were this always done, how many 

 valuable lives and property might be saved from destruction ! 



