Scenes on Board duriyig the TijpJioon. 541 



from tlio dangerous central point of tliese circular storms, 

 where the best and stoutest ship that ever floated must 

 almost to a certainty be swallowed up, but even to avail 

 himself of the wind to reach the edge of the cyclone (the 

 breadth of whose path is from 300 to 1000 miles), and thus 

 make a rapid and prosperous passage. By mid-day the 

 wind had increased to such an extent that we had to take in 

 most of our sails, and reef the rest. The sea now rose, and 

 many of its waves came thundering upon our decks. The 

 vessel was tossed to and fro with such violence that every- 

 thing which had not been made fast, or was attached to the 

 vessel, began to Im-ch from side to side. Nevertheless, the 

 invited guests sat down to table, made the seats and the 

 table fast, and, such at least whom the violent rocking did 

 not make sea-sick, partook of a pleasant and joyous meal. 

 But even these precautions did not prevent numerous un- 

 pleasant accidents. One tremendous lurch of the ship, 

 which took us unawares, suddenly set adi-ift a number of 

 our mess, who rolled over and over each other upon that 

 unstable floor, amid a hideous chaos of tumblers, bottles, 

 plates, and crockery. Chairs and fauteuils had their legs 

 broken, everything breakable went into irretrievable smash, 

 the convives escaping serious injury only by a marvel. Once 

 more they took their seats at table, where only the bare 

 cloth gave promise of security, and endeavoured to anchor 

 themselves more firmly. When, at the conclusion of the 

 meal, our Commodore gave the usual toast, and his guests 



