204 On the Courses of Hurricanes. 
advance of the main storm ; ro presenting the wind, for a few 
hours, in a direction not nomiacheia’ with that exhibited by the 
main body of the storm. It may also be added, that in. the 
most violent of these storms, it is at least probable, if not cer- 
tain, that the course of the surface wind is. spirally inward, ap- 
proximating gradually towards the center of the storm. ~ - 
3. At stations within the tropics, the changes of wind. during 
the passage of the hurricane, are sometimes known to exceed 
those which pertain to the passage of a regular circuit of wind; 
these changes sometimes running through the entire circuit of 
the compass, and even more. . Again, they have been known 
to shift back and forward, in alternate and fitful changes, when 
near the crisis of the storm. These phenomena, so far from dis- 
proving the rotative character of these gales, only prove some- 
thing more, and afford at least probable evidence, in support of 
one or both of the following positions, viz. 1. That, high land, 
and other obstructions, often produce sudden and fitful gusts and 
changes in these violent winds. 2. That, in accordance with 
our observations of minor vortices, the axis of rotation is often 
impelled, excentrically, around a smaller circuit, in the interior 
of the advancing storm. 
A. In the northern intertropical latitudes, the recession orde- 
parture of the southeastern limb of the storm, appears to be. fol- 
- lowed, not unfrequently, by strong squalls or gusts from south: — 
east, this being the true course of the general trade wind that 
nines the track of the storm. .'These gusts or squalls,.if 
taken for the regular action of the hurricane, may occasion erro- 
neous deductions in regard to the course of the storm. 
5. In the latitudes near the exterior limits of the trade winds, 
the.change which here occurs in the course of the storm,: pro 
gees apparent irregularities or anomalies in the series of changes 
| extent in my estimate of the path of the first August hurri- 
ane of 1830, as delineated on my first published chart, with an 
irregular deflection of the curve on the coast of South Carolina, 
which was predicated, in part, on the wind setting in at northeast 
at Charleston, and veering to.southeast as the storm became more 
severe. 
6. At stations * lee within the regular track of the storm, 
'. there will sometimes be an absence of violent wind ; or, tbe. S| 
“ 
nted by the wind. Owing to this cause I was misled to some: 
