Oh. XXIV.] STOEM AT HONG KONG. 411 



and one of the most tremendous squalls wldch I have ever 

 witnessed raged behind us. The blackness which closed in 

 round three sides of us made it so dark as to give rise to the 

 general remark that it was like an ecKpse. The uniform 

 and unbroken mass of cloud near the horizon assumed a 

 ghastly green tint, which was equally unusual and extra- 

 ordinary ; and the heavy black clouds rolled towards us, 

 curling over and over, and hanging down in murky festoons 

 which threatened to form into great waterspouts. For a 

 long time I watched these effects, untouched by a drop of 

 rain ; but at length it fell, though not heavily ; and with it 

 came the wind, which lashed the sea into foam, while the 

 most terrific lightning flashed through the green-black sky. 

 But we had fair weather ahead, and only the skirts of the 

 storm reached us, while the full force of its violence was felt 

 at Canton and Hong Kong. At Canton tremendous hail- 

 stones, as large as pigeons' eggs, fell and did considerable 

 mischief, as well as injury to the population ; while at Hong 

 Kong the storm raged all day with unusual severity. 



After a delightful passage we reached Singapore on April 

 3rd, and once more continued our journey on the 11th. 

 As H.M.S. " Osprey " was to leave Singapore a few days 

 after us, and would probably reach the Cape before we left, 

 it was arranged she should bring us our next mails ; and 

 we had, moreover, exchanged some officers with that ship. 

 But the " Osprey " was destined never to reach Simon's 

 Bay : she was wrecked and lost off Cape Agulhas, the first 

 intimation of which reached us after we had weighed anchor 

 and were standing out from St. Helena, when the Cape 

 mail arrived, and we were all set speculating by a signal 

 from the station ship, which we were just within distance to 

 read — " Osprey" lost ; all hands saved. 



