Mn 
164 Northers of the Mexican Seas and Coasts. 
trometer, which at Vera Cruz, in the time of the Norths, varies eight tenths between its 
highest and lowest range. The descent of the mercury predicts the Northers ; but they do 
not begin to blow [at Vera Cruz] the moment it sinks, which it always does a short time 
before the North comes on. Examples are not wanting of the norths happening in May, 
are called Nortes del Muero Colorado. They begin at the N. E., flying round the compass 
and settling at N. N. W. When the wind begins to veer again towards either the east or 
According to Humsoupr, both the eastern and Pacific coasts of 
Mexico are rendered inaccessible for several months by severe 
tempests, the Norths prevailing in the Guif of Mexico, while the 
navigation of the western [Pacific] coasts is very dangerous in 
July and August, when terrible hurricanes blow from the 8. W. 
At that time, and even in September and October, the ports of 
San Blas and Acapulco are of very difficult access. Even in the 
fine season, from October to May, this coast is visited by impetu- 
ous winds from N. E. and N. N. E., known by the names of pa- 
pagallo and tehwantepec. ; : 
It appears in like manner that the coast of Nicarugua and Gua- 
timala, in the Pacific, is visited by violent southwest gales in the 
months of August and September, known by the name of tapa- 
yaguas, which are accompanied with thunder and excessive rains ; 
while the tehuantepec and papagallos exert their violence during 
a Clear sky, | 
This seems to show that the so called Papagallos, 'Tehuante- 
pee, and Norther of Vera Cruz, severally, are but the clear weath- 
er side of a revolving gale, like the northwester of the coast of 
the United States; each in its turn being but part of a great vor- 
tical storm, which, in certain other portions of its area, or route, 
often exhibits an abundance of rain. 7 
UMBOLDT suggested that these northerly winds may blow from 
the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific, and that the Te- 
huantepee and Papagallo, may be merely the effect, or rather the 
continuation of the north wind of the Mexican Gulf and the 6r7- 
doubt that the Northers which visit the Pacific coast and the Gulf 
of Tehuantepec precede, in point of time, the same storms in the 
Gulf of Mexico, and are identical with them, having, commonly, 
in this region, a northerly progression. 
Col. Rem says, “it js possible that the Spaniards may apply 
the term Nortes, or Northers, to more than one phenomenon ; but 
