Remarks on Dehtgoa Bay. 143 



The changes of the seasons or monsoons may he said to be be- 

 tween September and March ; and the weather is mostly fine, 

 though then the rainy season. The fine weather is always ac- 

 companied by strong sea breezes at E.N.E. by compass, or N.E. 

 true ; and between noon and midnight they fall suddenly and 

 are succeeded by light land winds. After some days continuance 

 of fine weather, the land breezes become stronger, and the sea 

 breezes fall a little for one or two days together, which is often 

 accompanied by raiu. 



The rain always comes off the land with S. VV. winds, as may 

 be remarked on all this coast at this season, and which is not 

 difficult to account for. It frequently happens th;-.t heavy storms 

 are formed by the meeting of the sea and land winds, which 

 come on in furious gusts from South, lasting about an hour in 

 their greatest rage, and then settling into a gale that gradually 

 subsides in about thirty-six hours, as the winds draw round to 

 Eastward, and when at S.E. it becomes moderate and fine again. 

 The wind then gradually draws round by the East to North-east, 

 where it commonly continues a few days and then undergoes a 

 similar round of change. In the bay the South-east and East 

 winds are sea breezes, are accompanied by fine weather, and are 

 mostly followed by land breezes, though it frequently blows two 

 or three days from the Eastward, only relaxing in strength during 

 the night. The change of sea and land breezes are not felt at 

 three leagues from the coast, but at that distance and beyond it 

 the wind undergoes the changes above described. Bad weather 

 always comes on with winds between West and South, and dis- 

 appear as they draw round to the East, which holds from the 

 Kci River to the Baganto Islands, so that although this season is 

 called that of the N.E. monsoon, the strongest winds are from the 

 Southward. 



Delagoa Bay, according to some, is considered as a point of 

 considerable political and commercial importance. It is the only 

 part in Africa, to the Southward of Mozambique, over which, in 

 a nautical view, it has mauy very manifest advantages. The 

 neighbouring coast is clear and safe ; it is attainable and 

 always easy of access from North or South at all seasons 

 of the year ; it has safe anchorage either outside the bar or 

 within, or upon it. There are no currents to sweep ships past 

 it ; there is a convenient rise of tide, and the surrounding 

 country will always supply it to any extent of demand. Mozam- 

 bique fails in all these particulars. From Delagoa the voyage 

 to any part of India, or to Europe, is simple at all seasons of the 

 year ; but from Mozambique these voyages must always depend 

 on the monsoon. To Great Britain this port offers an important 

 point ; it opens all the interior of Africa to her commerce, 

 where millions of people are ready to receive clothing and 

 civilization from her. By its products the more southern would 

 always be secured against famine, or even scarcity ; and in itself 



