FROM LONDON TO TAMATAVE. 
19 
freedom from anything in the nature of storms, 
and the Atlantic for its gales and tempests, the 
Indian Ocean alone is swdf>t by periodic bursts 
of hurricane and cyclone, which rush across its 
surface with terrific violence, carrying devasta¬ 
tion and ruin in their course over land and sea. 
The Mauritius is about the centre of the field of 
these circular storms; and consequently, for long 
periods every year, the surrounding seas are full 
of peril even to the best found vessels and most 
experienced navigators. Few persons, therefore, 
who have been in the neighbourhood of these 
islands, have quite escaped without some expe¬ 
rience of the dangers and hazards which attend 
the passage of Madagascar waters at any time. 
One friend of my own was particularly unfortu¬ 
nate in this respect. He never went on board 
a ship without being followed almost inevitably 
by a furious hurricane. His official position ne¬ 
cessitated a life of travel, and at length he be¬ 
came known as the man with the “ cyclone in his 
pocket and captains have been known to refuse 
double passage-money, and even to sail a day 
sooner than that announced for their departure, 
and with only a part of their cargo on board, 
to escape carrying my friend. 
Communication between Madagascar and the 
other islands is therefore often suspended during 
the whole of the winter season, from June to 
