308 



METEOKOLOGY. 



[Sect. IX. 



Sec 



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sphere great cyclones alicaijs revolve the same way (so far 



at least as our present information extends), but that this 

 direction is opposite in opposite hemispheres. In the 

 northern hemisphere their rotation is retrograde^ i. e., con- 

 trary to the motion of the hands of a watch laid face 

 upwards, or in conformity with the motion of the hand in 

 unscreii'ing a screw. In the southern, their rotation is 

 direct^ conformable to the hands of a watch, or to the 

 motion of the hand screwing m a screw into a horizontal 



. And this general fact affords the following simple 

 rule by which to know at any given moment the hearing of 

 the centre of the vortex, which is the point of extreme 

 danger, by reason of the fury of the wind in its vicinity, 

 its sudden reversal, and the terrible sea which prevails 

 there. When sure that you are within the limits of a 

 cyclone, stand erect and look full in the wind's eye, then, 

 if in the northern hemisphere, turn yourself 90° or one 

 quarter of the circle round to your right (if in the 

 southern, as much to your left), and you will have the 

 centre of the hurricane facing you. Thus, if in the 

 northern hemisphere the wind at the ship be due north 

 (blow/rom the nortli), the centre bears due east from the 

 hip's place. 



The habitual tracks of hurricanes are but imperfectly 

 known, and all which tends to throw light upon this 

 part of the subject is of the last importance to navigation. 

 The reader may consult the works of Mr. Redfield, 

 Colonel Reid on the 'Law of Storms' (2nd edition) 





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Hornbook for the Law of Storms,' 



by Mr. Piddington, a work full of interest and information 

 on the subject, and which no navigator should go to sea 



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