80 



there were frequent occuiTences of a rotatory storm, and that these 

 storms, after leaving the Cape, pass away to the southward, extending 

 their southern edge as far as 46° to 48° south. Now, since, by the 

 well known laws of rotatory gales in the southern hemisphere, they 

 revolve from left to right, or in the direction of the hands of a watch.near 

 to the Cape they assume the appearance of a westerly gale. But it was 

 found that if we were four or five degrees south of the Cape, being then 

 on the southern or left edge of the gale, it was experienced as an 

 easterly gale, and mariners were warned to avoid going further south 

 than 37°. When the attention of Captain Godfrey was first directed 

 to the saving of 1000 miles of distance that might be effected by means 

 of composite sailing, this idea suggested itself to his mind : — " These 

 rotatory gales must have a limited range ; and if I can find a latitude 

 to which they do not extend, I shall not only shorten my distance, but 

 shall also avoid these gales altogether." This idea he fully matured in 

 the " Constance," and he also came to the conclusion that the most favour- 

 able maximum latitude is 51°, a conclusion which has been established 

 by the fact that the ten shortest voyages out have been made on this 

 route. By thus giving the Cape a wide berth we not only save distance, 

 but we avoid the region of storms. With the exception of a supposed rota- 

 tory gale experienced by the " Marco Polo" on her last voyage to Australia, 

 in the neighbourhood of Kerguelen land, and another in the same 

 neighbourhood, supposed to have been experienced by the " Argo," such 

 gales have never been recorded in the composite route after passing the 

 Tropic of Capricorn. On the other hand, in the latitude 51° we have 

 continued westerly winds, with a heavy roUiug sea from the west ; and 

 also the wind in this region seems to blow with more equal force than 

 the winds we are accustomed to experience, except in the neighbour- 

 hood of Tristan d' Acunha and Kerguelen land, where the steadiness of 

 the wind appears to be interfered with by the interruption of the land. 

 I am not, however, convinced that the captains of the "Marco Polo" and 

 of the "Argo "have sufficient grounds for establishing the fact that they 

 were rotatory gales which thej^ experienced, although they had good 

 prima facie evidence of the gales being of the character they describe 

 them to be ; still, it is only simultaneous observations of different 

 vessels about 100 miles distant from each other that can fully establish 

 the fact. 



I have alluded to the " Persian " and other vessels that have been 

 navigated in a lower latitude, on account of the health of the passengers. 

 No one can but commend the conduct of the captain who would be 

 actuated by such a motive. In fact, I have given such advice to those 



