THE WENTWORTH HURRICANE. 113 
mn had gained more ground in the open ocean east of the 
New 1 Hebrides ‘than it had on the coast of Queensland. “Speaking 
of the change of wind at Maré from E.S.E. to N.W., there is one 
‘ important fact that I have not mentioned. At 8 p.m. on the 8th, 
when the gale was abating, the weather was marked by rain 
squalls—a sure sign of the meeting of the polar and equatorial 
currents ; and the falling a was only another proof of the 
presence of the lighter equatorial cu 
ile these were the conditions “with the “John Williams,” the 
“John Wesley” had got the strong N.W. on the 5th, and carried 
a fresh N.W. gale all the way to Fiji, with fine st but, fine 
as it w; as, the bad weather was all the time at no grea’ at dista nce ; 
for that afternoon, the 9th, when she was entering Kandavau 
assage, the “ Wentworth” cleared Kandavan at 4: 30 p-m., and 
saw a “erence bank of clouds in the south-west, and ge 
lightning which was seen flashing through it told its character as 
vonged ar words could have done. Jit that time the *Weutwo veh” 
was in a strong N.N.W. gale, and kept on her oa to Sydney, © 
which ay right through the cloud -bank. Now what has been 
ti f th ae omain currents, 
N. W. and 8.E. (see map), it is obvious that ee storm into which 
and the sea very high and confused. Having ied wind, she 
probably made 10 miles per hour, and from 8 p.m. to 3°30 p.m., 
Judging from the furious storm she met. Now she was hove-to 
for thirteen hours, and her position by log shows ree she drifted 
to eastward at the rate of 3 miles per hour, while we know that 
have passed over 3) dney. 
t the “ Wentworth” was on the N.W., and not on the south 
‘Side of the storm, seems to me to admit of no doubt ; and if at 4 
_ Pm. she had changed her course to west she would have avoided 
worst of it, 
