542- Voyage of the No vara. 



emptied their glasses to the health of the reigning monarch, 

 the band attempted to strike up the National Anthem, 

 and a heart-y cheer resounded above the groaning of the 

 ship, the howling of the wind, and the sullen roar of the 

 ever-increasing waves, as they lashed against the ship's 

 sides. 



Tlie sun went down behind clouds, as we went careering 

 along under close-reefed main-sail and storm stay-sail over 

 a confused sea, running mountains high, and with huge 

 heavy grey masses of cloud and mist close overhead ; the 

 barometer was still falling, and as night closed in the wind 

 sung mournfully, yet with almost deafening noise, tlirough the 

 masts ^nd rigging. The wind now shifted and sprung up 

 from N.E. by N., which being an additional sign that the 

 centre of the cyclone was receding, we felt assured that we 

 were on the right side to keep clear of it. By midnight the 

 wind came still further round, till it stood steadily at N.E., 

 when it acquired fresh strength, and blew a most violent 

 hurricane. The centre of the cyclone had once more altered 

 its course, and begun to move in our direction. 



Our position at noon (27° 25' N. and 125° 23' E.) was the 

 most unfavourable possible. We had a N.E. wind, and 

 were in the N.E. section of the typhoon, whose centre, as is 

 customary in these storms, was moving in a N.W. or W. 

 direction, and therefore threatened the more readily to over- 

 take us, tliat our course lay S.E. tlirough the wide channel, 

 which leads from the Chinese Sea into the oj^cn ocean 



