File:Narrative of the expedition of an American squadron to the China seas and Japan (1857) (14784567415).jpg

Identifier: narrativeofexped05perr (find matches)
Title: Narrative of the expedition of an American squadron to the China seas and Japan
Year: 1857 (1850s)
Authors: Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858 Hawks, Francis L. (Francis Lister), 1798-1866
Subjects: United States Naval Expedition to Japan (1852-1854)
Publisher: New York, D. Appleton and company (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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ce of the equilibrium in the air that takes place atthe change of the monsoons. This period of strife lasts about a month,and then the hurricanes rage with terrific violence. Redfield, Reed, andothers, have explained the laws by which they suppose them to be governed ;and their hypothesis is perfectly well known and understood by the Mauri-tians. The islands of Mauritius, Bourbon, and Roderique, lie directly intheir ordinary track, and if either of them happens to fall within the vortexof one of these hurricanes, the consequences to life and property are terribleindeed. . The natural interest felt in the subject, as well as its great practicalimportance, have given rise to many discussions as to the best means to beadopted, should a vessel unfortunately find herself within their sweepinginfluence or in their proximity; and though these discussions may, anddoubtless will, result in a better understanding of the laws which govern ,m , if I n * 1, I . ilF 1 ill iiiiiiiiii IK:- ili illi r
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llJiiliiii^ THE CYCLONES. 137 these winds, yet it must be confessed that some of them have rather a ten-dency to confuse the simple-minded and practical seaman, who, if caught inone of these storms, should undertake ihen to find rules for his guidance.He can spare no time from the handling of his vessel, and however plain,abstract principles may be to him who is at leisure quietly to master themon shore, the cabin of a ship in a storm is a poor school of philosophy.This, however, only shows the necessity there is that the seaman who wouldunderstand his profession^ should study and master all that science hasbrought to light, when he can do so on shore, and before he is caught in astorm which demands its immediate application. However, the instructionsgiven by the earlier writers on these hurricanes are now more generallyunderstood than they were, by the well informed seaman, particularly sincethey have been further explained and simplified by the more recent publica-tion of Piddington

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