114 Voyage of the Novara. 



Lat. and 29° 30' W. Long., it entirely left us. The sky often 

 became dark and threatening ; indeed, its aspect changed at 

 times with surprising rapidity, without any particular disturb- 

 ance in the direction or strength of the wind ; nor had we to 

 complain of as much rain as might have been expected in 

 these regions. 



The calms in the so-called "belt of calms" were fortu- 

 nately not of long duration, for in 6° 43' N., and 28° 49' W., a 

 fresh south-east wind sprang up. When we came within the 

 influence of the south-east trade-wind, we endeavoured to ap- 

 proach the coast of South America, for the purpose of observing 

 the currents in that latitude, this being one of the investiga- 

 tions suggested by the letter of instructions drawn up by 

 Alexander v. Humboldt. The great oceanic stream, which, on 

 leaving the western coast of Africa takes a westerly direction, is 

 divided by the projecting American Continent into two branches, 

 of which the stronger turns N.W. towards the Caribean Sea, 

 while the weaker moves south-west along the coast of Brazil. 



We had already felt its influence whilst in the zone of 

 calms, and it became still more perceptible the more the 

 equator was approached. The continuance of the south-easterly 

 trade forced us to cross the Line at a more westerly point than 

 usual. This, however, causes no disadvantage to a good sailing 

 ship J nay, Commander Maury has proved indisputably that 

 ships make extremely short passages, which reach the Equator 

 so far to the west that they run a risk of hugging the coast 

 too closely. Those on the other hand, which, from over- 



