In this work the Bearings are all Magnetic, except where marked as True. The Distances are expressed in Sea Miles of 60 to a Degree of Latitude. A Cable's Length is assumed to be equal to 100 Fathoms. APPENDIX. SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR THE COAST OF CHINA. CHAPTER I. TYPHOONGS; CURRENTS IN THE CHINA SEA AND ON THE EAST COAST OF CHINA; AND REMARKS ON MAKING PASSAGES. Typhoongs.These dangerous tempests derive their name from two Chinese words, ta great, and fung wind, which are applied by the natives, like our words storm or gale, to any unusual wind, and do not specifically mean rotatory tempests. They occur in the northern part of the China Sea, near Formosa, the Bashí islands, and the north end of Luzon; also to the eastward of those islands, and between Formosa and the Japan archipelago; extending into the Formosa channel, and down the coast beyond Amoy, Hongkong, and even to the island of Hainan, where they are expected earlier in the season than off Fuhkien. Their range is from the coasts of Hainan to the Bonin islands and north as far as Corea, travelling northerly as the season advances the high mountain chain which runs nearly the whole length of Formosa, and rises from 5,000 to 10,000 feet above the sea, probably diverts, not only their curve, but their direction. These tempests are liable to happen in both monsoons; but they are usually less severe in the China Sea, if they occur in May, November, or December, although in the vicinity of Formosa and the Bashí islands there are sometimes furious gusts in November. From December to May they seldom or never happen. Of late years, those that have been experienced in June and July were the most violent; many vessels have been dismasted and sustained other damage by them. The months of August, September, and October are also subject to these tempests. The September equinox is a very precarious period, APP. 1 1 particularly if the change or perigee of the moon coincide with the equinox. When this was the case, typhoongs happened several years at the equinox in September, on the coast of China, and many ships were dismasted on the 21st or 22d of that month. The coming of these tempests cannot be prognosticated with certainty, for they frequently commence without giving much indication of their approach. The clouds having a red aspect is not a certain warning of the approach of a typhoong; for, at the rising, but more particularly at the setting of the sun, the clouds, especially those opposite to it in settled weather, are sometimes tinged with a deep red colour by the reflected light. Neither is an irregular swell a good criterion to judge of their approach; for near the coast of China a cross swell frequently prevails during settled weather. A hazy atmosphere preventing land from being seen at great distances, is no unfavourable sign on the coast of China; for this is generally its state in medium or settled weather. A serene sky, with the horizon remarkably clear, should not be considered an indication of a continuance of favourable weather; for a series of fine weather and calms, favouring an increase of heat above the mean temperature, is likely to be succeeded by a typhoong. When the horizon is very clear in some parts, and the summits of the hills or islands obscured by dense black clouds, there is some irregularity in the atmosphere, and stormy weather may be apprehended; but in reality, typhoongs are seldom preceded by any certain sign or indication. Marine barometers seem to afford the best means of anticipating their approach; for, on the south coast of China, there is a greater fall of the mercury than might be expected within the tropics. Many vessels have been driven from the entrance of Canton river to the Mandarin's Cap, and even to the Taya islands near Hainan, during typhoongs; for among the islands, and near this coast, these tempests generally commence between N.W. and North, then veer suddenly to N.E. and East, frequently blowing with inconceivable fury, and raising the sea in turbulent pyramids which impinge violently against each other; the current at such times runs strong to the westward. From eastward, the wind veers to the south-eastward and southwards, and then becomes moderate. It is found that their progress is governed by a general law, and consequently the vortex can be avoided, and the vessel's safety assured by attention to a practical rule, which is this:-Look to the wind's eye,-set its bearing by the compass, and the 8th point to the right thereof, in North latitude, will be the bearing of the centre of the storm. For example, suppose the vessel to be in lat. 18 N., the wind East, and the barometer and sky indicating a coming gale, then, look at the compass, take the 8th point to the right of East, and South is the bearing of the brewing storm, if it be of a revolving type. In this case the vessel will be on the northern edge of the storm-field. In the northern part of the China Sea, a low barometer for several days previous, an ugly threatening appearance, and heavy swell, will give sufficient warning, and provided it be taken, will enable vessels to get sufficient sea-room to avoid the centre of the storm, or to secure safe anchorage. Typhoong Harbours.-The following is a list of anchorages on the east coast of China where vessels will lie secure in a typhoong:-Tam-tu island; Mirs bay; Ty-sami inlet (for 12 feet draught;) Namoa island (abreast Stewart's house ;) Tongsang harbour; Amoy harbour; Quemoy island; Pescadore islands (Makung harbour;) Chin-chew harbour (within the Boot sand ;) Hunghwa sound; southern entrance to Haitan strait; Pih-quan harbour; Bullock harbour; Kelung harbour (Formosa ;) Chusan archipelago (Ting-hai outer and inner harbours, Chinkeamun and Chin-keang harbours, Fisher or Changpih island, and Ta-outse on the north-west side of Kintang.) Currents in South-west Monsoon.-The currents in the China Sea are very changeable, their direction and velocity depending much upon local circumstances. Late in April, or early in May, they generally begin to set to the northward, in the south and middle parts of the sea, and continue to run in a north-easterly direction until September, while the South-west monsoon is strong; but they are not constant in this monsoon, for at times, when the wind is moderate or light, the currents are liable to change and set in various directions. After the strength of the monsoon has abated, there is often little or no current in the open sea, running to the north-eastward; but sometimes its direction is to the southward. Along the coast of Cochinchina, from Pulo Obi to Cape Padaran, the current sets mostly to the E.N.E., parallel to the shore, from April to the middle of October; and during the same period its direction is generally to the northward along the east coast of the Malay peninsula, from the entrance of Singapore strait to the Gulf of Siam. To the northward of cape Padaran there is but little current in the South-west monsoon, near the Cochinchina coast; for, from thence to the Gulf of Tongking, a small drain is sometimes found setting to the northward, at other times to the southward. When a gale happens to blow out of the latter gulf from the north-west and westward, the current at the same time sets generally to the south-west or southward, in the vicinity of the Paracel islands and reefs, or where these gales are experienced; and this current running obliquely, or contrary to the wind, a turbulent and high sea is thereby produced. On the south coast of China the current is much governed by the wind; when strong S.W. winds prevail, it runs along shore to the eastward, but seldom strong. Near, and amongst the islands, westward of Macao, there is generally a westerly current, occasioned by the freshes from Canton river, which set in that direction; frequently sweeping along the islands from Macao to St John between W.S.W. and W.N.W., about 1 or 2 knots per hour. This westerly current is, however, not always constant in the South-west monsoon, for it slacks at times; then a weak tide may sometimes be experienced running eastward. On the coasts of Luzon and Palawan, the current generally sets northward in the South-west monsoon, but frequently there is no current, and near these coasts it seldom runs strong. Near the Bashí islands, it sometimes sets to the eastward when strong westerly winds prevail; but generally strong to the northward, or between N.N.W. and N.E. The strength of the current on the eastern coast of China increases with the freshness and duration of the monsoon, varying from one to as much as 3 and even 4 knots per hour; and this requires to be especially guarded against when |