26 
GALE OF WIND. 
Chap. II. 
lating ourselves on our great good luck, and just 
coming to the conclusion that all we had heard 
and read of the gales on this coast were so many 
“ travellers’ stories but we were soon compelled 
to come to a different conclusion. Towards dark 
the sky began to wear a lowering appearance in 
the north-east, and in less than half an hour we 
were in the midst of a gale of wind. Sail after 
sail was taken in, and at last it was deemed advis- 
able to lie to until some change in the weather 
should take place. The sea also rose with great 
rapidity, and, except in a typhoon in China, I never 
recollect such a gale and such a sea. Our little 
bark behaved admirably, rising and falling with 
the sea, and shipping comparatively little water. 
For two days it was necessary for us to remain 
in this uncomfortable position ; and when the gale 
moderated, and we were able to get a little sail 
upon the vessel, the winds were foul, and carried 
us considerably to the southward of our course. 
But it cannot always blow a gale, even in Japan ; 
so, whether the winds were tired of persecuting us, 
or whether it was owing to the influence of sundry 
old shoes which were thrown overboard, 1 cannot 
say, but the gale ceased, and a fair wind sprang 
up from the westward. On the evening of the 
28th we were abreast of Cape Idsu— that Cape of 
Storms where it is said to blow always. Our expe- 
rience, however, was rather different ; for we 
seemed to run into a dead calm, with a heavy 
tumbling sea. 
