CURRENTS AND TYPHOONS. 73 



here, there, everywhere. Thought myself in one place 

 safe as a church, away from those abominable islands, 

 when, to my horror, on the mist lifting, I was bang on 

 the top of them. There is only one place I have not 

 been to — bed. Talk about currents ! Mill-sluices is 

 the proper name. And as for the ship, of course I 

 never saw her. I am only precious glad I see my own 

 at this present moment." He certainly looked consi- 

 derably ruffled, and in want of a good night's rest. 



The typhoons which occur in Japanese waters are, 

 I believe, always distinct from the China storms. 

 Originating in tropical latitudes, their first course is to 

 the north-west, the same as that of the Kuro Siwo. It 

 appears they then pass over the same ground, gradually 

 turning to the north with the warm current, striking 

 the south coast of Japan just as they incline away to 

 the north-eastward. Their northern disc now becomes 

 flattened in against the high mountain ranges, which 

 form an almost insurmountable barrier to their further 

 progress across the country. The general north-east 

 direction of the coast is then followed until the south- 

 east corner of Nipon is reached, when they pass out to 

 the open Pacific until their force is expended. The 

 result of these circular storms becoming flattened on 

 their northern semi-diameter is, that easterly winds 



