Annual Repoi t of the <S'. A. Institution. 1 17 



could such an appearance have been presented, unless the de- 

 stroying cause had so operated a? to secure the carcases from 

 the numerous and powerful devourers of carrion with which 

 our deserts abound. 



* We may notice also, on this branch of our inquiries, two 

 papers on the Analysis of Mineral Springs in the colony. One 

 of which, by Dr. Mair at Uitenhage, proposes some specula- 

 tions with regard to the causes of the high temperature of 

 several of our springs, presenting -us for future investigation, 

 the consideration whether this can arise from volcanic agency, 

 or be the more probable result of chemical changes near the 

 earth's surface. 



In Meteorology we have to regret that so little is done over 

 the colony, or so few notices received of what is doing. The 

 Institution has in its possession, Diaries of the Weather, &e. 

 at Port Elizabeth, during three years ; these are not, however, 

 successive, and the earlier ones of them have been, apparently 

 from the want of instruments, kept in an unsatisfactory mode, 

 but still so as to show the zeal and perseverance of the inquirer. 

 The most valuable, is an abstract of Observations on the Tem- 

 perature, Atmospheric Pressure, and prevailing Winds, during 

 1830, transmitted by Mr. Francis. The abstract represents the 

 extreme and mean temperatures of that year as S0°. 70J°. and 

 'it °. The highest mean temperature of a month, (Jan.) is 7<l£ 

 Farnh. The mean height of the Barometer is given as 30-16 

 inches, and the range 0-7 inch. The prevailing winds are of 

 the same character as those which agitate our atmosphere, and 

 are noticed as 229 days of north-west and 128 of south-east, 

 with 8 days calm. Those remarks combined with an abstract 

 in our possession, of the winds during 1826, would give the 

 proportions of these winds as 2 '25 to 136. The days on which 

 there was rain, more or less, are marked as 62. It is to be 

 regretted that no measurement is made of the real quantity of 

 rain falling annually in the different districts of the colony: 

 nor, in fact, any adequate means taken to ascertain the cha- 

 racters of the two very dissimilar climates which prevail on 

 the extended sea coast, and in the wide and arid interior of 

 our country, though these, circumstances are of such obviou? 

 importance in estimating their capabilities, in judging of the 

 character of their vegetation, or in illustrating the condition of 

 society which will naturally prevail in them. , 



The Atmosphere can never cease to be to us an object of 

 interest, and the domain which the investigation of its proper- 

 lies has now opened to human research, will probably be for 

 generations the field where science will seek its triumphs and 

 curiosity its rewards. Our ignorance of it stands as a barrier 



