ON THE CAUSES OF THE 



but contrary to that of the rotation of the globe." 

 According to Malte-Brun — "The globe, moving with velocity 

 towards the east, leaves the waters of the tropical oceans 

 always a little behind ; and hence they seem to move 

 towards the west with a rapidity proportioned to the 

 superior velocity with which the solid parts of the earth 

 really move towards the east." And the writer of the Atlas 

 remarks — " Whatever may be thought of this theory, which 

 it must be confessed is somewhat fanciful, the fact is certain 

 as to the existence of these currents or movements, by 

 which the waters of the sea are carried without any impulse 

 of the wind or tide into a particular direction." " Thus the 

 Pacific Ocean flows from east to west with a motion powerful 

 in proportion to the vast and uninterrupted extent of that 

 sea. This main current in its motion westward is impeded 

 by an immense archipelago of islands and sub-marine moun- 



fr tains. It forces its way into this labyrinth, and then forms a 



^* variety of currents." — (p. 35.) 



In the same work, in speaking of the Atlantic currents it is 

 said — " The great western current of the Indian Ocean, after 

 passing the Cape of Good Hope, advances across the Atlantic 

 to the American shore; and being opposed by this great 

 barrier the waters divide, and are turned in different 

 directions by the peculiar configurations of the coast. One 

 part makes its way through the Straits of Magellan to the 

 Pacific Ocean ; the other stream is better known, it being 

 the great current of the Atlantic Ocean, which is turned 

 northward about the 8th degree of south latitude, and 

 extends towards the eastern coast of America. It is ex- 

 tremely rapid; — it prevails from the 30,th degree of north 

 latitude to the 10th degree of south latitude, beginning at 

 from twenty to thirty leagues from the coast of Africa, and 

 extending over all that sea in which the Antilles are 

 scattered. There is a third great current of the Atlantic 

 Ocean, by which its waters, in their progress westward, are 



