2gz pJjilosoph'ical geograpjjy. Feh. 27 w 



This is evidently occasioned by a cause already 

 taken notice of ; for notwithstanding the high and 

 cold nature of this part of the continent of Africa, 

 yet when the sun is to the south of the line, his- 

 powerful influence at that season so far abates their 

 natural degree of cold, as not to interrupt the gene- 

 ral trade- wind between the months of October and 

 April. But when he returns to the northern hemis- 

 phere, the high . mountains of Africg, resume their 

 native coldnefs, and a strong current of air, rufliing 

 from them to warmer regions, repels the general 

 trade-winds by its cold and more powerful blast, so 

 as to produce the intemperate monsoon which here 

 takes place between the months of April and October. 

 From Mozambique to CapeGuardafui, the monsoons 

 ai'e a little more irregular than in the other parts of 

 the Indian ocean. It is observed that here, between 

 October and January, the winds, though chiefly from 

 ilie north, are variable. In January the N. E. mon- 

 soon sets in, and continues regular till the month of 

 May. From May till October the winds, thovigh 

 chiefly from the southern points, again becomfe vari- 

 able, but in the months of June, July, and August, 

 there are frequent calms, especially about the bay of 

 Melinda, which sometimes continue for several weeks 

 together, and extend only about one hundred leagues- 

 from thf fhore. 



Before we can explain clearly the cause of this ir- 

 regularity, it will be necefsary to attend to the direc- 

 tion of the wind, on eacli ^ide of this track, at each 

 particular season. In the months of October, Nov- 

 ember, and December, the winds are here variable. 



