396 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



time, I have been careful in mentioning every little 

 particular which has come under my own notice, 

 that my researches may in some degree compensate 

 for that great deficiency of observations in the po- 

 lar regions, which has hitherto rendered the natu- 

 ral history of this part of the world so incomplete. 



Respecting atmospheric temperature and pres- 

 sure, I have been enabled to offer the result of se- 

 veral years observations, which, from the perfect na- 

 ture of the instruments employed in the investiga- 

 tion, may be received without reserve. In the phe- 

 nomena of the Winds, however, which I am now 

 about to describe, I cannot be so precise ; being 

 able to give a correct idea only of their peculiarities 

 and direction, whilst their relative force, founded 

 on conjecture, I am unable to express otherwise 

 than in the phraseology of the mariner, which, it 

 must be allowed, is somewhat ambiguous *. 



In proportion as we recede from the Equator, we 

 find the winds become more variable, irregular, and 

 partial. In the torrid zone, the trade-winds blow 

 with striking regularity, and flow in a similar di- 



• The varieties and gradations of the force of the Winds, 

 may be comprised under the following designations : Calm, 

 inclinable to calm, light air, gentle breeze, moderate breeze, 

 brisk breeze, fresh breeze, strong breeze, brisk gale, fresh gale, 

 strong gale, hard gale, very hard gale, excessive hard gale, 

 hurricane. 



