CUKKENTS AND TYPHOONS. 79 



confidence as to the position and track of the storm, a 

 fair wind may be sometimes made of it, or it may 

 be absolutely necessary to run, at any rate, for a 

 time, to escape the centre of the storm, which may be 

 approaching directly on your position. After being in 

 a great many of these typhoons, I found the average 

 speed of the whole body of the storm to be about 

 eighteen miles an hour. 



It once happened that after running along for 

 several days with a fair wind, which was not more than 

 a good strong breeze, I came to the conclusion that we 

 were in the outer circle of a cyclone. I ran on some 

 more days, feeling still more certain we had at last met 

 with a friendly typhoon. Our destination was a point 

 in the Indian Ocean where I had to commence a line 

 of deep soundings. By the time we reached this place 

 I had determined in my own mind that the cyclone 

 would, on our stopping, overtake us, and the centre 

 pass a little to the northward ; then the storm would 

 take a south-westerly course. On reaching my position 

 I immediately furled all square-sails, and set a couple of 

 storm ones. The wind now increased, the sails were 

 split to ribbons, a boat was smashed by the sea, and 

 altogether we spent a rough and uncomfortable night. 

 Next day was beautifully fine, and, after getting the 



