116 On the Law of Storms in the 
movement in high southern latitudes forms the rule, and 
not the exception. 
Speaking of the Fejee Group, Lieut. Wilkes says,—“ from 
April to November the winds prevail from the E.N.E. to 
S.E. quarter, at times blowing a fresh trade wind. From 
November to April northerly winds are often experienced, 
and in February and March heavy gales are frequent. They 
usually begin at the N.E., pass round to the N. and N.W., 
from which quarters they blow with most violence ; then 
hauling to the westward they moderate. 
A very heavy gale was experienced from the 22nd to the 
25th February, 1840. The only data I could get, to be at all 
depended upon, were from Capt. Engleston, whose ship was 
lying under Toba Peak, on the north shore of Vitileva. The 
gale began from the N.E., with heavy rain on the morning of 
the 22nd. During the night and morning of the 23rd it 
was more to the N., increasing with violent gusts. They let 
go a third anchor, and sent down the topmasts and lower 
yards. On the 24th the gale was the same, with much rain 
and wind, hauling to the westward at midnight of the 25th. 
It became N.W. in the morning, when it began to moderate, 
the wind hauling gradually to the southward, when it cleared 
off. The Missionaries could give no further information than 
that the gale had lasted four days. This gale was not felt at 
Tonga, although they had strong winds there at the time. 
At Rewa, on the eastern point of Vitileva, Capt. Hudson 
visited the Missionaries, and found them most miserably 
accommodated, their dwelling-house having been blown 
down in the tremendous storm on the 25th February.” 
This hurricane appears to have travelled to the southward, 
at the rate of about 200 miles a day. Captain Morgan, of 
the John Williams, las favoured me with a perusal of his 
journal, and of the log of the Missionary brig Camden, then 
