238 OBSERVATIONS ON THE WINDS. 



(178.) Third, or S.W. Quadrant. — Wind from North to West. With 

 a ship lying-to, with the wind from the Northward, as the Storm pro- 

 gresses it will draw round to the Westward, from right to left, truly as 

 apparently so. As a ship scuds to the Southward and Eastward, the wind 

 will draw round in the same manner as mentioned above. It appears 

 obvious, that a vessel falling into the Storm, under any point in this 

 quadrant, would merely feel the " brush " but she will be hable to be 

 taken aback if standing to the Northward or North- Westward on first 

 entering the scene of operation, supposing her to be within the limits of 

 the Trade Wind. 



(179.) Fourth, or N.W. Quadrant. — Wind from East to North. If a 

 ship lies-to, with the wind at any point between East and N.E., it will 

 appear to draw round from left to right, or from N.E. by E. to East. If 

 she lies-to with the wind between N.E. and North, the shifts will be from 

 right to left, or from N.E. by N. to North. Under the N.W. verge (where 

 the wind is at N.E.), a ship, being then in the line of the anterior pro- 

 gression, will drift, probably, into or very near to the centre of the Storm, 

 which, on account of the sudden shifting of the wind there (167), should, 

 if possible, be avoided, as there the greatest danger may correctly be con- 

 sidered as existing. 



If a ship scuds, under the same circumstances of winds, the changes will 

 appear the same as above given ; but slower in the first instance, and 

 quicker in the second, for these reasons : that in the one case, the points 

 of change are receding from her as she advances ; and, in the other, they 

 draw toward her approach, her velocity through the water accelerating the 

 alterations ; and this difference is occasioned by the progression of the 

 Storm to the N.W. 



Within the limits of the Trade Wind, if a ship be standing to the South- 

 ward, she will not be liable to be taken aback, on striking the Storm in this 

 quadrant, but she would be so if steering to the Northward. 



(180.) It should be constantly held in remembrance, that, under all cir- 

 cumstances, the wind remains the same ; or, in other words, that under 

 any given point of the horizon, the wind will be found to blow from a par- 

 ticular direction unchangeable, so that there is actually no shifting : the 

 changes observable being occasioned by the progression of the Storm to 

 the N.W., and the movements of the vessel. 



From this peculiar character of the tempest, the course which a ship will 

 pursue through the circle of operations, as also the successive changes of 

 the wind, as these appear to take place, become an easy problem to solve, 

 after having noted the point from which the first wind or the first shift, if 

 felt {provided no divergency in the course, or vibratory motion of the 

 meteor), takes place. 



(181.) No general rules can belaid down for the guidance of the mariner 

 for placing his ship in such a position as to ensure her not being taken 

 aback when the Storm shall be first felt, because until that moment arrives, 

 when the direction of the first blast is to become his "polar star," he 

 cannot, with unerring certainty, anticipate his position with respect to the 

 particular verge of the Hurricane that is approaching him. 



Under such unavoidable circumstances, he must use his best judgment 



