348 NAVIGATIOX. 



as a caution to navigators. The honourable company's 

 ship Bridgewater was dismasted in a typhoon off Macao, 

 and refitted at Whampoa, chiefly from her own resources. 

 On her homeward voyage with many passengers on board, 

 in Ion Of. 90° east, lat. IS'-' south, running down the trade, 

 the barometer indicated bad weather. The ship was well 

 manned and commanded by a most skilful and inteUigent 

 officer. Captain Manderson. Preparation was promptly 

 made, and every precaution was taken which human fore- 

 sight could suggest to encounter the approaching gale. It 

 came, and lasted for fifty-six hours with unremitted vio- 

 lence. The ship lost every thing but her foremast and bow- 

 sprit, — her guns and part of her cargo were thrown over- 

 board, — the anchors were cut away, and she bore up for 

 Calcutta, was condemned, and broken up. Had the warn- 

 ing of the barometer, which fell to 28.70, been neglected, 

 and the ship less skilfully handled, her total loss would most 

 probably have ensued. The hurricane commenced at east, 

 veered to north, and broke up at west. 



From the equator to the 10th or 12th degree of south lati- 

 tude, east and east-south-east winds blow six months of 

 the year, from April to November, with dry weather, — and 

 this is called the easterly line monsoon. From October to 

 April, west, north-west, and north-north-west winds prevail 

 within these limits, with cloudy weather and rain, — which 

 is the westerly line monsoon. The westerly winds are 

 strongest in December and January ; but are never so con- 

 stant as the easterly winds in the opposite monsoon, which 

 is frequently extended to the equator in June, July, and Au- 

 gust, from long. 45° east to 90° east. During the south- 

 east or easterly monsoon to the southward of the equator, 

 on the north side of it, the south-west monsoon prevails, 

 which is the rainy season on the coasts of India. It com- 

 mences in April at the north part of the Arabian Sea and 

 Bay of Bengal, but seldom till May near the line, which is 

 its southern limit ; thence it blows home to all the coasts of 

 India and Arabia, continuing till October. This is a change- 

 able month, and liable to gales on the Malabar coast and 

 Bay of Bengal. In October, or early in November, when 

 the north-west or westerly monsoon begins south of the 

 equator, the north-east monsoon commences in the Arabian 

 Sea and Bay of Bengal, and lasts till April, with fair 



