214 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XIII. 
the country is frequently visited by those dreadful gales 
called by foreigners typhoons. The name is a corruption 
of the Chinese word Ta-fung or " great wind." These 
storms commit the most fearful ravages both by land 
and sea. The barometer gives warning some hours 
before the gale commences, and, therefore, foreign ships 
can always send down their masts and yards, and, if 
possible, remove to a safe anchorage. Where that is 
not to be had, they have the dreadful alternative of 
standing out to sea. The Chinese, without the aid of 
the barometer, can always tell when the Ta-fung is 
coming on by the following signs. The wind, which 
blows from the south-west in the typhoon season, changes 
and blows from the north or north-east, becoming gusty 
and gradually increasing in strength, the sky lowers and 
looks wild, the sea rolls in upon the beach with a dead 
heavy swell, and everything portends a coming storm. 
When these signs appear, the fleets of fishing-boats on 
the coast take their nets in, crowd all sail, and make for 
the shore as fast as they can, where the boats are hauled 
up on dry land, or into some creek which is sheltered 
from the force of the winds and waves. The coasting 
junks, which are ill fitted for bad weather, lose no time 
in getting into some sheltered port where they can ride 
out the storm in safety. And, luckily, as a safeguard 
from the fury of these winds, nature has provided a 
great number of excellent well-sheltered harbours on the 
coast of China, all of which are well known to the pilots 
who are employed on board the junks. 
During my residence in China I witnessed two of 
these terrific gales — once at sea, and once on shore. 
