1849.] Eighteenth Memoir on the Law of Storms. 917 



E. by S. gale, amounting at one time with some of them who were 

 close to False Point or on the parallel of 20° to a hurricane. 



But in this case also there will be found abundant guidance for the 

 judgment of the attentive seaman, who will see by placing his Horn- 

 card on the Chart, that the wind at the Light Vessel is at E. by S. 

 (shewing that the centre is S. by W. of him already) from the first, 

 and E. S. E, (centre bearing S. S. W.) by the time it is really blow- 

 ing hard, and thus he will not attempt now to cross in front, but get an 

 offing and heave to. 



To sum up these rules then. For the ships to the Northward (t. <?., 

 on the right hand side of the track) of the Cyclone when the gale, with 

 a falling Barometer, is at S. E. to E. S. E., they may if they have sea 

 room stand to the N. E. to allow it to pass them comfortably, heaving 

 to of course on the starboard tack when far enough out of its way. 

 Between E. S. E. and East they may, if the Barometer be not too low 

 and they have sea room to give the shores of Orissa a wide birth, with 

 a stout ship and good helmsmen venture to cross, or if this be not ad- 

 visable, heave to on the starboard tack when they have made an offing, 

 if in an outward-bound ship, or before they run too far in if inward bound. 



With the wind between East and N. E. to North. I have already 

 shewn that crossing may almost always be safely adopted for the ships 

 to the right (Northward) of the Cyclone path ; and for those to the 

 left (Southward) of it that they must not run into it fancying it a fine 

 fair wind, or too far up if in its rear, as that is wholly useless, and may 

 bring them into soundings with a heavy Southerly gale, and this much 

 sooner than they expect, if the storm-wave and current are strong when 

 the track is one near the Meridian.* All will, I hope, recollect that they 

 have first to consider what their ship and crew can do, next what their 

 best course is, and lastly in what position they may be if dismasting, 

 or even loss of topmasts should occur ; and this may happen from 

 broaching to, or from sheer hard blowing, in the best ship. With an 

 on-shore gale the resource of anchoring in the open ocean, which all 

 the Sandhead anchoring, and most of that of the coast of Orissa is, be- 

 comes one to which no good seaman would desire to be reduced if he 

 can avoid it. 



Finally ; I need not remark that in all this, both as to the expected 

 * See the case of the Albion in Note at p. 905. 

 6 c 



