ot ele REPORT—1848. 
observations upon the winds. Of these, the winds were found from the northward 
and eastward (the regular trade quarter) .......... 442 times. 
From the 8. and E. ............... 408 — ,, 
Peyreripeeiet Feat: \ tc Wh) oe ere 951: _,; 
dt Gash INS ANO WV s -anescaceoe RoaDl 
The law which governs the trade-winds is here reversed: they blow from the oppo- 
site quarter. And the natural tendency of winds cannot be so suddenly and com- 
pletely reversed without creating violent atmospherical disturbances. Accordingly, 
the facts show this region to be one of violent squalls, sudden gusts of wind, of 
thunder-storms, heavy rains, lightning, baffling airs and calms. It is known to 
sailors as the region for the equatorial ‘ doldrums.’ 
To the westward of this region and between the same parallels, the winds again 
assume their normal direction, and prevail from the eastward. 
It is not a little singular that vessels bound from any of the ports in the United 
States to Brazil, should cross the Atlantic nearly twice, and if they be bound round 
the Cape of Good Hope they cross it three times. The usual route of vessels bound 
from the United States to any port beyond the Equator is to steer almost an east 
course, many of them making the Canaries, and most of them Cape de Verde islands, 
as the chart will show. They then shape their course through this “doldrum” 
region and steer to the southward and westward for their port. Now the log-books 
in my possession show that southward-bound vessels in traversing this region may 
expect to encounter either head winds or calms about 1400 times out of 2292. 
The navigator would therefore have about two chances to one against a fair wind in 
this portion of the route. 
To the west of this region and more directly in the straight line from the United 
States, the chart shows a blank space through which a straggling vessel passes only 
now and then, The chart indicates, and facts subsequently obtained show, that here 
the prevailing winds are more favourable than they are by the usual route, for a 
short passage to the Equator. The materials so far collected—and they are ex- 
tensive—show that if a Rio bound vessel were to keep to the westward of 25°, the 
wager instead of being two to one against fair winds, would be three to one in favour 
of them, Between the meridians of 25° and 35° W. I have 800 observations ex- 
tending from the Equator to 5° N. Of these,— 
257 give the wind from N. and E. 
366 Be Ps S. and E. 
102 > 2 S. and W. 
30 a N. and W. 
and 45 ealiie. 
Hence it appears that in this region there are three calms and four S.W. winds 
to the east of long. 25°, to one calm and one S.W. wind to the west of that meri- 
dian. The wager against head winds and calms by this route, and in this part of it, 
would be one head wind for three fair ones, instead of two head winds for one fair 
one by the usual route. Moreover the distance by the new route is nearly 1000 
miles less than by the old. 
It may be asked, why has not a route which is so obviously better and more direct 
been tried before? The answer is ready; sailors more than any other class of men 
are prone to follow in the wake of their predecessors. They know and feel that the 
experience of any one of them as to winds and weather at sea is at the best very 
limited. It is confined to the spot where he may be; they are therefore prune to 
follow their guide-books. Cook went that way in 1776. Hydrographers put his 
track on their chart as a guide, the next to come after him took the same track, and 
each has continued to follow the other. 
Meteorological Observations at Huggate for 1847. By Tuos. RANKIN. 
Greatest degree of cold, therm. 16°, March 11th; 7° colder than last year. Hot- 
test day 78°, July 14th; 5° less than last year. Greatest range of therm. for any 
given day 33°, July 3rd; least range 1°, Jan. 8th. Greatest range for any given 
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