366 Dr. Heineken's Meteorological Register 



week's sunshine when the wind had passed from the W. to 

 the N. E, by the S. No snow has yet appeared upon the 

 mountains (December 31st), but the winter has notwithstand- 

 ing been severe. More thunder and Hghtning has occurred 

 than usual, for we have very httle ; indeed, a gold-leaf electro- 

 meter (not however in a favourable situation) has seldom been 

 at all affected, and then only very slightly. 



The quantity of rain from the eastward was so unusual a 

 circumstance as to excite the observation and astonishment 

 of every one. As a general law, to which but few exceptions 

 will arise, it may be said that our rains are periodical, and 

 that they come from the westward of N. and S. ; and that to 

 the eastward of those points of the compass it is all fine open 

 weather. I have perhaps been needlessly precise in the de- 

 scription of the instruments used, and their positions; but as 

 I felt that my name could give no weight to their results, I 

 was unwilling to deprive them of the benefit which could ac- 

 crue from a certificate of the mode in which they were con- 

 ducted. 



In the course of the summer I ascended Pico Ruivo, the 

 highest point of the island, and by Newman's iron cistern ba- 

 rometer and Daniell's hygrometer made the height 6069 feet 

 above the level of the sea ; See Note {a). Bowdich gives it as 

 6164 feet; but then he states Mr. Veitch's turret, where his 

 lower instrument hung, to be 154 feet in height, whereas it ap- 

 pears to me to be only 97 ; See Note [h): Admitting this to be 

 the case we agree within 38 feet; no great matter of difference 

 in such a height and under such opposite circumstances; for 

 our instruments were different, and our data taken from con- 

 trary sides of the island: it should in candour also be stated, 

 that my observations were conducted with one barometer only ; 

 and should his height of the turret appear to have been erro- 

 neous, the error I am presuaded did not originate with him ; 

 for when already embarked for Africa, he wrote me a note 

 which has been destroyed, and the particulars of which I can- 

 not now remember, requesting me to desire his publisher to 

 make some alteration in the height of that identical turret. 

 What this alteration was I cannot recall to mind ; but I have 

 no doubt that the ))ul)lisher neglected to make the correction, 

 and that the error is thus satisfactorily accounted for. 



Funchal, Madeira, Dec. 31, 1826. C. Heineken, M.D. 



Note 



