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it; and describes the weather as being squally, thick, heavy and wild looking; the upper clouds coming from N.W.; the next stratum N.E.; and the lower scud, with the wind, fast from S.E. The trades (S.E.) were blowing strong—but at midnight ran into a dead calm; the breeze soon sprung up again, and the next day had a high, confused sea, barometer rising from 29.95 to 30.00. For two days after, the barometer kept falling gradually, squally weather, but strong trades. On the third day, barometer had fallen to 29.71, ship hove to, the appearance of the weather was threatening; dense lurid atmosphere; very peculiar appearance at sunset, last two evenings. Dark and threatening appearance to the N.Wd.; the wind increasing and drawing to the E’d., with thick weather when standing to the N’d., but always fine when going S. A thick, lurid appearance over the heavens—the sun only showing as through a dense veil, with heavy leaden-looking clouds to the N. and N.W.”—He further states: “The weather became more squally, with rain, when standing N.—and that one heavy squall from N.E. was followed by light airs from the E’d. In some of the squalls the clouds were so dense and dark that it was not possible to see further than fifty yards from the ship.” He also speaks of immense masses of leaden-colored clouds, covering the whole canopy of heaven, and giving it a murky, threatening appearance, and the sun setting, casting over the whole a red, lurid appearance, and throwing over everything on board the ship a reddish tint.
I have selected this case as a good example of what the indications of typhoons are, and although all typhoons are not as well marked as this one, yet one or more of these signs will generally appear in advance of the gale; and, separately or collectively, should receive a proper degree of consideration, as much of the safety of the ship and crew depends upon timely measures being taken for avoiding the gale, or if that be not possible, at least the dangerous part of it. In connection with the signs of approaching gales, I would mention that several cases are recorded wherein have appeared peculiar red tints, or lights in the
