126 



similar effect ; but these do not seem to demand such extensive 

 muscular power. 



Mr. N. H. Bishop gave an account of the Zonda Wind 

 of South America. 



The " Viente de Zonda" may be called a local wind, as it only 

 blows, in the vicinity of San Juan, of the Argentine Republic, 

 S. A. The town lies at the eastern base of the Andes, three or 

 four leagues from the outer Sierra, South lat. 31° 4', (Molina,) 

 long. 68° 57' West, (Arrowsmith.) Behind the first sierra, in the 

 valley of the Andes, are four or iive farms which constitute the 

 hanllet of Zonda, from which the wind is named. To all appear- 

 ance, the wind is formed outside the range, and blows west upon 

 the town ; but some old guides pretend that it comes from off the 

 snowy caps of the main Cordillera. It blows at all seasons, 

 though in the month of August (midwinter) it is most frequent. 

 This wind is hot and parching to the skin, and brings with it 

 clouds of dust and dirt, that fill the houses of the people with fine 

 sand. All persons leave their work and seek refuge in their 

 houses, while many of the huts of the gauchos are blown away 

 'by the force of the wind. Most persons are troubled with severe 

 headaches ; those who have been suffering from diseases of the 

 heart, find their complaints greatly aggravated, and frequently 

 there are cases of sudden death. Three or four years since, five 

 persons fell dead during Zondas in the month of August. The 

 Zonda lasts sometimes but two or three hours, at other times 

 more than forty-eight hours. 



While the Zonda is at its height, a few puffs of cold air from 

 the south announce a change, and immediately the weathercock 

 veers from east and west to north and south, and a cold wind, 

 equally as strong as the hot Zonda, now prevails from the south; 

 all nature is refreshed, and men return to their labors. 



Mr. Bishop stated that he had opened a communica- 

 tion with a North American residing at the base of the 

 Andes, in South America, and that, through him, he 

 hoped to be enabled to obtain specimens of natural his- 

 tory from that region. 



