CYCLONES OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC. 349 



true,] and a heavy gale. At 9 p. m., died away suddenly, and came down from S.W. ; course 

 E. by S. 



October 9. — Gale moderate from S.W. by W.; at 7 a. m., bove-to ; middle part, wind W., 

 with a beavy cross sea. At 4 p. m., kept off E. by S. ; latitude 45° 40' N., longitude 169° 45' E. 



October 10. — Gale fresb from N.W., [noon;] wind moderate, W. by N. ; latitude 44° 36' N. , 

 longitude 173° 20' E. 



This further trace of the cyclone increased the desire for observations from the earlier portions 

 of its path in the lower latitudes, but which seemed unattainable. Fortunately, the London 

 Nautical Magazine, for February, 1855, contains the following report from P. Briard, com- 

 mander of the brig Giffard, addressed to the editor : 



" CYCLONE IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



" Sir : I forward you an abstract from the log of the brig Giffard during a severe typhoon, 

 experienced on her passage from San Francisco to Shanghai, which will help to investigate the 

 track of cyclones in that part of the Pacific ocean. 



"Tuesday, October 3, 1854.— Latitude at noon, 25° 32' N., longitude 137° 48' E. ; fresh breezes 

 from N.E. ; hazy weather ; a dense bank of clouds in the east ; barometer fluctuating between 

 29.70 and 29.80. At midnight freshening breeze, with squalls and rainy weather ; ship heading 

 N.W. by N. 



" October 4. — Increasing gales, with squalls and thick, rainy weather ; double-reefed topsails ; 

 furled jib and mainsail. Noon, latitude 27.40 N., longitude 134° 10' E. ; barometer 29.60. 

 At 1 p. M., barometer fell to 29.35 ; gale increasing, with incessant rain. I begin to suspect we 

 are edging gradually in a typhoon, the winds being east, and our course W.N. W. ; consequently, 

 being on the northern edge of it, I decided on heaving to, to allow thtf center of the cyclone to 

 pass on ahead ; sent down royal yards, furled the courses and foretopsail, and brought the vessel 

 to under close-reefed maintopsail on starboard tack ; wind east ; ship's head N.N.E. At 4 p. m., 

 barometer 29.30 ; at midnight, barometer 29.25 ; wind E.S.E. 



" October 5, a. m. — Blowing a severe gale, with incessant rain ; lying to under close-reef main- 

 topsail. At 4 a. m., barometer 29.20 ; wind S.E. ; at 8 A. m., barometer 29.15 ; wind S.S.E. ; 

 at noon, barometer 29.05 ; wind S.S.E. ; at 2 p. M., barometer 29.00 ; wind S. by E., blowing 

 a furious typhoon, with incessant rain ; the sea a complete sheet of foam, flying over the ship. 

 At 4 p. m., barometer 28.80 ; wind south ; at 8 p. M., barometer 28.70; wind S.S.W. ; were 

 struck by a sea on the starboard bow. This, combined with the strength of the wind, which 

 was now at its height, carried away the bowsprit, foremast, close to the deck, and maintopmast, 

 leaving nothing but the mainmast standing, and shifted the ballast, giving the vessel a heavy 

 list to port. At midnight, barometer 28.70; wind S.W. ; no abatement in the fury of the 

 gale. 



" October 6. — At 1 a. m. the barometer began to rise ; at 2a. m., barometer 28.90; wind 

 W.S.W., moderating a little ; still raining incessantly. At 4 a. m., barometer 29.00; wind 

 W. by S. ; at 8 A. m., barometer 29.10; wind W. by S. ; at noon, barometer 29.30; wind 

 west ; moderating fast, but still blowing a heavy gale. My impression is, that on the 4th the 

 cyclone was travelling N.W., but that on the 5th it recurved to north, as we had the heaviest 

 of it when the center bore N.W. 



" I remain, &c, 



"P. BRIARD." 



