KVSTING OF THE TLADE- WINDS, ETC. 153 



similar circmnstances, but on a smaller scale, before our eyes, viz., 

 more precipitation than evaporation. In other words, they pro- 

 bably leave in the Atlantic as much vapom- as they take up from 

 the Atlantic. Then Avhere, it may be asked, does the vapour which 

 these winds carry along, for the replenishing of the whole extra- 

 tropical regions of the north, come fi'om ? They did not get it as 

 they came along in the upper regions, as a counter-cm-rent to the • 

 north-east trades, unless they evaporated the trade- wind clouds, and 

 «o robbed those mnds of their vapom*. They certamly did not get 

 it h'om the surface of the sea in the calm belt of Cancer, for they 

 did not tariy long enough there to become satm-ated with moisture. 

 ThiLs circumstances again pointed to the south-east trade-wind 

 regions as the place of supply. This question has been fully dis- 

 cussed in Chapter Y., where it has been sho^vn they did not get it 

 from the Atlantic. Moreover, these researches afforded gTounds for 

 the supposition that the air of which the north-east trade-winds are 

 composed, and which comes out of the same zone of calms as do 

 these south-westerly winds, so far from being satm^ated with vapom' 

 ^t its exodus, is diy ; for near their polar edge, the north-east 

 ti'ade-winds are, for the most part, diy winds. 



350. Facts seem to confirm this, and the calm belts of Cancer 

 Wet and dry air of and Capricom both throw a flood of hght upon the 

 the calm belts. subjcct. Thcse are two bands of light afrs, calms, 

 and baflling winds, which extend entirely around the earth. The 

 afr flows out north and south from these belts. That which comes 

 out on the equatorial side goes to feed the trades, and makes a dry 

 wind ; that which flows out on the polar side goes to feed the 

 counter-trades (§ 349), and is a rain wind. How is it that we can 

 have from the same trough or receiver, as these calm belts may be 

 oalled, an efflux of dry air on one side and of moist on the other ? 

 Answer : upon the supposition that the air without rain comes 

 fr'om one quarter, that with rain fr'om another — that, coming fr'om 

 opposite directions to this place of meeting, where there is a cross- 

 ing, they pass each other in their cfrcuits. They both meet here 

 BS> upper cmTents, and how could there be a crossing, v/ithout an 

 agent or influence to guide them ? and why in the search should 

 we not look to magnetism for this agent as well as to any other of 

 the hidden influences which are concerned in giving to the winds 

 their force and dfrection ? 



351. He that estabhshed the earth "created it not in vain ; He 

 formed it to be inhabited." And it is presumptuous, arrogant, and 



