134 A VIOLENT WIND 



boat, was at length driven by a violent storm 

 to a distance from the coast. The prisoners were 

 well treated ; their prison was commodious, and 

 their food excellent. In fourteen days, sentence 

 was pronounced on them, probably at Jeddo, 

 and proved less mild than might have been ex 

 pected in Japan : they were ordered to be re 

 placed in their boat, and immediately sent to 

 sea without any provisions, let the weather be 

 what it might. After wandering on the trackless 

 ocean for eight-and-forty hours, they had the 

 good fortune to meet with a whaler, which took 

 them in. These examples may serve as a 

 warning to all navigators who may be desirous 

 of effecting a landing in Japan. 



The Californian winter being now fairly set 

 in, we had much rain and frequent storms. 

 On the 9th of October the south-west wind 

 blew with the violence of the West-Indian tor 

 nado, rooted up the strongest trees, tore off 

 the roofs of the houses, and occasioned great 

 devastation in the cultivated lands. One of 

 our thickest cables broke; and if the second 

 had given way, we would have been driven on 



