Trade-Winds, Rio JaJieiro, cic. 115 



first of this chain) is the site of the principal telegraph, and has 

 the manifest disadvantage of heing in no small degree irremeahle 

 to the progress of the sea-breeze in the direction of the town. 

 On approaching nearer the harbour are seen, at a distance be- 

 yond the end of it, like an immense black cloud extending in the 

 northern-eastward and southern-vvestward directions, the Organ 

 Mountains, so called on account of the inequality of their various 

 jutting peaks, and their fancied resemblance to the pipes of the 

 instrument of that name when viewed at a distance. To the left 

 of these, again, is seen afar the alpine Tengua, over which are 

 the passes to the mines. And on entering the harbour, the con- 

 templative faculties are called up by the picturesque appearance,, 

 exquisite beauty, and striking grandeur of the surrounding scenery.. 

 The harbour itself, particularly when viewed from any of the lofty 

 hills contiguous to it, seems to correspond more to the descrip- 

 tion of a gulf, than to the common termination of two rivers 

 forming a harbour. It abounds with beautiful and attractive bays, 

 that have more the appearance of romantic lakes ; and which are 

 happilv rendered cool and refreshing during the noontide heats 

 of a vertical sun, by the sea-breeze blowing directly into them, 

 or circuitously through delightful glens or windings, and thereby 

 usually with accelerated motion. 



As tiie force and extended influence of the sea-breeze of any 

 maritime place depend in a great measure on its position, and 

 on the extent and nature of the adjacent land, the wind blowing 

 into Rio de Janeiro (situate as it is on the east coast of America 

 and within the southern verge of the torrid zone) is compounded 

 of the trade-wind and sea-breeze; and accordingly it in general 

 blows with more than refrigerative force. The sea-breeze ge- 

 nerally sets in about noon, or occasionally about an hour or two 

 before or after ; after which it gradually increases, and continues 

 fresh for about from three to six hours, when it dies away; a 

 perfect calm then ensues, and lasts for some time, frequently until 

 about midniglit ; at which time the land-breeze springs up, and 

 is succeeded by a short interval of calm, or by an immediate sea- 

 breeze. At other times the land-breeze almost immediately suc- 

 ceeds the sea-breeze ; and sometimes an unusual cessation of the 

 one is productive of an irregular suspension of the other ; both, 

 however, are still referable to tiieir primary causes. 



I have, at different times, noticed the mercury in the tiiermo- 

 meter to be influenced bv tl\e sea-lireeze, without any apparent 

 influx or rise of moisture on the one hand, or dispersion of it on 

 the other. Between the 17th of December and the 23d of Janu- 

 ary (the interval of our first stay here) the temperature was be- 

 tween 93 or Jj2=*and 82"; and'betwcen the IHth of March and 



• On shore it was ficiiucntly up to 94 ' and 95 '. 



H 2 the 



