On the Courses of Hurricanes. 209 



Tyfoons of the China Sea. 



It can hardly be doubted that the general course which is pur- 

 sued by hurricanes, is the same as that of the general mass of at- 

 mosphere or winds by which they are surrounded, and of which 

 they form an integral portion. It becomes, therefore, a point of 

 some importance in meteorology, to ascertain the true course of 

 the hurricanes or tyfoons of th€ Asiatic seas. Should this course 

 prove to be in conformity with the existing monsoons, this would 

 be in accordance, it is believed, with the analogies in the tropical 

 latitudes of the Atlantic ; at least, if we have regard to the entire 

 stratum of winds which lies below the common height of the 

 clouds. But if the general course pursued by these storms, be the 

 very same with those of the corresponding latitudes of the Atlan- 

 tic, in which there are no monsoons, it may serve to show that 

 the westerly monsoons, which are opposed to the course of the 

 regular trade winds, consist only of a misplaced or minor stratum 

 of current, which forms a thin layer of surface wind, less general 

 than that of the regular trades, and which is therefore inefficient 

 in opposing the progress of a great hurricane ,• — -the latter being 

 impelled by the stronger and more general current of the regular 

 trade wind ; which is supposed to overlie, at all times, the stra- 

 tum of misplaced current which forms the westerly monsoon. 



These remarks will apply equally to the monsoons of both 

 north and south latitude. Col. Reid has been fortunate in ob- 

 taining full evidence of the opposite recurvation of a hurricane in 

 south latitude, in open sea, and during the prevalence of the north- 

 west monsoon ; a result which can hardly be too highly valued. 

 This storm, however, (Culloden's hurricane, of March, 1809,) was 

 encountered to the southward of the limits of the northwest 

 monsoon in the Indian ocean ; but the hurricane of the Albion, 

 noticed by Col. Reid, was exposed to the full influence of this 

 monsoon. It becomes important, therefore, to ascertain its path, 

 in order that the influence of the monsoon upon its course may 

 be duly appreciated ; and we hope that its path may yet be 

 ascertained. 



In regard to the northern hemisphere, Col. Reid has given us 

 notices of several hurricanes or tyfoons in the Asiatic seas, with 

 no indications of a course diflierent from those in the North At- 

 lantic. The following generalization, grounded on independent 



Vol. XXXV.— No. 2. 27 



