Annual Report. S^o 



iThus it is asserted, that in narrow parts of the Eastern Seas 

 there is only one tide in the 24 hours, or that one of the 

 undulations becomes extinguished, and that in the Pacific 

 the hour of change is constant. Again, it is remarkable that 

 over the whole South African coast the tides are low, though 

 we have a wide and deep sea around us, while in the northern 

 divisions of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans the tides are of 

 great height ; showing that the configuration of the coast, and, 

 perhaps, also of the bottom, has a powerful effect in modifying 

 the general celestial agencies which operate in them. 



A proposal was made, and considered, to establish a Meteor- 

 ological Observatory for a short time, at the main-guard, where, 

 from the constant presence of the military, the observations 

 might be recorded for short intervals, — and by the kindness of 

 the President, then Acting Governor, leave was obtained for 

 having this done at intsyvals of two hours. The preparations 

 however, which would be needful for having it efficiently and 

 usefully performed, seemed rather beyond the compass of our 

 resources for the time, and it was therefore deferred. A re- 

 gister is now being kept at the Royal Observatory, which will 

 afford the data necessary to determine the character of our 

 climate. There has lately been submitted to the Council, a 

 printed half-sheet containing a plan for marking the changes 

 of weather, &c. by letters, which the Council would recom- 

 mend to the attention of its members, and would propose to 

 reprint here. 



There has also been communicated by Major Cloete, a MS. 

 Meteorological Journal, kept by Capt. Aitcheson, of the Cape 

 Corps, at the military post Caffers' Drift. It is from 1830 to 

 1834, with few interruptions, and is filled with an interest- 

 ing detail of the appearances of the sky, &c. The following 

 abstract accompanies the journal : 



The Observations are at 7 a.m.— noon— and 5 p.m. 



1832. 1833. 1834. 

 Med. Temp. Med. Temp. Med.Terap. 



January 72<'03 73"32 74"'33 



February 72 54 74 83 74 60 



March 70 33 72 30 69 90 



April 67 04 66 80 67 04 



May 61 54 64 38 64 6G 



June 57 79 62 20 



July 60 37 62 76 



August 59 09 63 12 



September 64 23 65 63 



October 62 30 • 65 68 



November 64 58 66 21 



December 65 75 70 00 



Means. C4 80 67 28 



Mean of the two years CO" 01 



