346 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA, AND ITS METEOFtOLOGY. 



673. Farther infonnation may be gained npon the subject of 

 study of the mon- high and low barometers, of the "barometric decli- 

 SHmSaftoudl!"' vity of winds," and of the meteorological influence of 

 ing the calm belts, diminished atmospheric pressm^e by studying the calm 

 belts in connection mth the monsoons. 



674. Before, however, we proceed to these, let us take a hasty 

 The south-west winds glance at the T\inds in certain other parts of the 

 of the Atlantic. occau. The wiuds which most prevail on the polar 

 side of the calm belt of Cancer, and as far as 50° N. in the Atlantic, 

 are the west v*dnds. " Wind and weather in this part of the ocean," 

 says Jansen, " are very unreliable and changeable ; nevertheless, in 

 the summer months, we find permanent north ^dnds along the 

 coast of Portugal. These north winds are w^orthy of attention, the 

 more so from the fact that they occur simultaneously with the 

 African monsoon, and because we then find northerly winds also in 

 the Mediterranean, and in the Eed Sea, and farther eastward to the 

 north of the Indian monsoon. When, between the months of May 

 and November, dm^ing wliich the African monsoon prevails, the 

 Dutch ships, which have lingered in the calm belt of Cancer run 

 with the north-east trade, and direct then' com^se for the Cape Yerd 

 Islands, then it seems as if they were in another world. The 

 sombre sides and changeable — alternately chilly and sultry — weather 

 of our latitudes are replaced by a regular temperature and good 

 settled weather. Each one rejoices in the glorious heavens, in which 

 none save the little trade-clouds are to be seen — which clouds in the 

 trade-wind region make the sunset so enchanting. The dark-blue 

 w^ater, in which many and strange kinds of echinas sport m the sun- 

 light, and, when seen at a distance, make the sea appear like one 

 vast field adorned with flowers ; the regular swellings of the waves 

 with their silvery foam, through which the flying-fishes flutter ; the 

 beautifully-coloui'ed dolj)hins ; the diving schools of tunnies — all 

 these banish afar the monotony of the sea,* awake the loA^e of life 

 in the youthful seaman, and attmie his heart to goodness. Every- 

 thing around him fixes his attention and increases his astonishment. 



675. "If all the breathings out of heartfelt emotion which the 

 fJaiiinp; through the Contemplation of nature forces fi'om the sailor were 

 trade-wind. recordcd in the log-books, how much farther should 

 we be advanced in the knowledge of the natui'al state of the sea ! 



* When we, as our forefathers did, preserve in the journals all that we observe at 

 sea. then we shall have abundant material with which to keep oiu-selves pleasantly 

 occupied. 



