138 THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA. 



On either side of this warm current that escapes from the inter- 

 tropical parts of the Indian Ocean (§ 260), midway between Africa 

 and Austraha, an ice-bearing current (Plate IX.) is found wending 

 its way from the Antarctic regions with supplies of cold water to 

 modify climates, and restore the aqueous equilibrium in that part 

 of the world. These cold currents sometimes get as far north 

 with their icebergs as 40° south. The Gulf Stream seldom per- 

 mits them to get so near the equator as that in the North Atlan- 

 tic, but I have known the ice-bearing current which passes east 

 of Cape Horn into the South Atlantic to convey its bergs as far 

 as the parallel of 37° south latitude. This is the nearest ap- 

 proach of icebergs to the equator. 



262. These currents which run out from the inter-tropical basin 

 of that immense sea — Indian Ocean — are active currents. They 

 convey along immense volumes of water containing vast quanti- 

 ties of salt, and we know that sea water enough to convey back 

 equal quantities of salt, and salt to keep up supphes for the out- 

 ffoino- currents, must flow into or return to the inter-tropical re- 

 gions of the same sea ; therefore, if observations were silent upon 

 the subject, reason would teach us to look for currents here that 

 keep in motion immense volumes of water. 



263. The Currents of the Pacific. — The contrast has been 

 drawn (^ 257) between the China or " Gulf Stream" of the North 

 Pacific, and the Gulf Stream of the North Atlantic. The course 

 of the China Stream has never been traced out. There is (Plate 

 IX.), along the coast of California and Mexico, a southwardly 

 movement of waters, as there is along the Vvcst coast of Africa 

 toward the Cape de Verd Islands. 



264. In the open space west of this southwardly set along the 

 African coast, there is the famous Sargasso Sea (Plate IX.), 

 which is the general receptacle of the drift-wood and sea-weed of 

 the Atlantic. So, in like manner, to the west from Cahfornia of 

 this other southwardly set, lies the pool into which the drift-wood 

 and sea-weed of the North Pacific are generally gathered. 



265. The natives of the Aleutian Islands, where no trees grow, 

 depend upon the drift-wood cast ashore there for all the timber 

 used in the construction of their boats, fishing-tackle, and house- 

 hold gear. Among this timber, the camphor-tree, and other woods 

 of China and Japan, are said to be often recognized. In this fact 



