DISTRIBUTION OF RAINS. 133 



coast of Europe. The prevailing wind there is the southwest re- 

 turn trade. This comes to the western coast of England charged 

 with moisture. The result is, upon the western coast of that 

 island, there falls 45 5-10 inches of rain annually ; while the 

 annual rainfall on the eastern coast is 21 4-10 ; the difference re- 

 sulting from the fact that the western coast is in the path of the 

 prevailing wind, which comes to it charged with moisture from 

 the Atlantic ocean. On the western coast of Ireland, the annual 

 rainfall is 47 4-10 inches ; on the eastern coast, 29 7-10. 



If we were to take an example from the new world, we should 

 find no better one, perhaps, than is afforded by our new posses- 

 sions in the northwest. At Sitka, which is exposed to the north- 

 west return trades, charged with moisture from the Pacific Gulf 

 Stream, there are poured down annually, 90 inches of rain. Go 

 over to our eastern coast, at a corresponding latitude, 60° north, 

 and we shall find a rainfall of less than 20 inches. Sitka on the 

 western coast of America, is exposed to a wind which has received 

 its character from the ocean ; whereas at the same latitude on our 

 eastern coast, the wind has passed over mountain regions, and 

 although it may prevail in the same direction as before, is a dry 

 wind, since it has been robbed of its moisture. 



Were we to take examples illustrative of the path of the trade 

 winds, we should find no better examples than on the eastern 

 coast of South America. At Paramaribo, the capital of Dutch 

 Guiana, the annual rainfall is 229 inches. At Guienne, the capital 

 of French Guiana, 21 inches of rain have been known to fall in a 

 single day. Compare these results with the rainfall in our own 

 State. Last year, during the month of October, when the quantity 

 was three times that which usually falls in the same period of 

 time, less than two inches fell, while at Guienne, 21 inches fell in 

 a day. Do the character and direction of the prevailing winds 

 have nothing to do with the distribution of rain ? At Maranhao, 

 a little further down the coast, south of the mouth of the Amazon, 

 the annual rainfall is 276 inches — about 23 feet; whereas, on the 

 western coast, the rainfall is almost down to zero. AVhen the 

 southeast trade winds, charged with moisture, come to the eastern 

 coast, they pour down a part of their treasures of rain, and as 

 the clouds which are formed sweep over the eastern part of South 

 America and reach the Andes, they pour down upon tl;g eastern 

 side of those mountains, the remaining moisture with which they 

 are charged ; and Avhen they pass over the Andes, they are 



