342 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



It is here seen that in the Formosa channel the cyclonic wind had set in on the 21st, settling 

 to N.N.W. at midnight, at the distance perhaps of 90 miles to the left of the line on which the 

 axis of the storm was approaching; hnt pushing northeastward, in order to clear Formosa and 

 the small islands, the vessel was steered almost directly for the approaching vortex, and thus 

 changed her wind from N.N.W. to N.N.E., the proper anterior wind on the path of the gale's 

 axis. When this axis had passed the vessel, she was then enabled to run on her desired course, 

 before the southwesterly and southerly winds, thus crossing the axis path into the second right 

 hand quadrant of the gale, and thus bringing the wind to the southeast quarter. 



The axis path of the gale, as indicated by the foregoing reports, is found on the annexed 

 storm chart for the north Pacific ocean, marked (A). 



To what limits this cyclone might be traced on the left or southerly side of its path we are 

 unable to determine. In regard to the entire breadth of its path, it appears by the report of 

 sailingmaster Conover, " that on 26th and 2Tth of July, it blew most terribly upon the coast 

 from Hong Kong to Shanghai; scattering and wrecking the unwieldy Chinese junks, and 

 sending many a poor fisherman to his long home." Its further course over the great alluvial 

 plain of China and the adjacent waters of the Yellow Sea, and the subsequent recurvation of its 

 path to the northward and eastward, are not likely to be determined by direct observations. 



The phenomena of this great cyclone are fruitful of instruction, both to mariners and meteor- 

 ologists, and present many points of practical interest, which cannot be dwelt upon in the 

 limits of this communication. It may be noticed, however, without regard to the slow rate of 

 progression, that the phases of the barometer and winds which were presented in the extensive 

 region on the right side of the axis path, are in perfect accordance with those which are found 

 in the right hand quadrants of the great cyclones which so often sweep over the United States 

 and the north Atlantic ocean, in pursuing their northeasterly course. Thus, as we have 

 already seen, during the W.N.W. progression in the lower latitudes, the true winds of the 

 cyclone, in its two right hand quadrants are chiefly from the eastern board, and veering to the 

 right towards the south in the progress of the storm ; and on reaching the higher latitudes, in 

 consequence of the inversion in the course of progression, the winds of these two right hand 

 quadrants come mostly from the ivestem board, and are still found veering towards the right, by 

 west towards the north, as the cyclone moves onward over the places of observation. Such cases 

 are constantly presented during the greater part of the year ; and our navigators in crossing 

 the Atlantic have great experience of the truth of this position. 



CYCLONES AND MONSOONS. 



It is doubtless important that the nautical reports which we have already noticed should 

 become available for the better guidance and security of oceanic commerce. For it often happens 

 that seamen are too slow in recognizing the cyclonic character and conditions of the gales which 

 they encounter, and many disasters have resulted from this neglect. 



In the Asiatic seas, as elsewhere, the judgment of the navigator is often misguided by the 

 loose and inaccurate statements which are found in various authorities. Thus, it is said that 

 gales or hurricanes rarely occur in these seas, except at the equinoxes, or at the changes of the 

 monsoons. These assumed axioms are greatly erroneous, as the inspection of the storm charts 

 may suffice to show. 



The actual relations of the cyclones to the monsoons and local winds of the Asiatic seas are 

 of much iaterest, and merit a careful examination. It is quite remarkable that these monsoons 



