CURRENTS OF THE SEA. X93 



tlie sea must be losing its salts, and becoming less and less 

 briny. 



390. Tlie currents of the Indian Ocean. — By carefully examining 

 the physical features of this sea (Plates VIII. and IX.) and 

 studying its conditions, we are led to look for warm currents that 

 have tlieir genesis in this ocean, and that carry from it volumes 

 of overheated water, probably exceeding in quantity many times 

 that which is discharged by the Gulf Stream from its fountains 

 (Plate VI.). The Atlantic Ocean is open at the north, but tropical 

 countries bound the Indian Ocean in that direction. The waters 

 of this ocean are hotter than those of the Caribbean Sea, and the 

 evaporating force there (§ 300) is much greater. That it is 

 greater we might, without observation, infer from the fact of a 

 higher temperature and a greater amount of precipitation on the 

 neighbouring shores (§ 298). These two facts, taken together, 

 tend, it would seem, to show that large currents of warm water 

 have their genesis in the Indian Ocean. One of them is the 

 well-known Mozambique current, called at the Cape of Good Hope 

 the Lagulhas current. Another of these warm currents from the 

 Indian Ocean makes its escape through the Straits of Malacca, 

 and, being joined by other warai streams from the Java and 

 China Seas, flows out into the Pacific, like another Gulf Stream, 

 between the Philippines and the shores of Asia. Thence it at- 

 tempts the great circle route for the Aleutian Islands, tempering 

 climates, and losing itself in the sea as its waters gi'ow cool on 

 its route towards the north-west coast of America. 



391. The Blach Stream of the Pacific contrasted with the Gulf 

 Stream of the Atlantic. — Between the physical features of this, the 

 " Black Stream " of the Pacific, and the Gulf Stream of the 

 Atlantic there are several points of resemblance. Sumatra and 

 Malacca correspond to Florida and Cuba ; Borneo to the Bahamas, 

 with the Old Providence Channel to the south, and the Florida 

 Pass to the west. The coasts of China answer to those of the 

 United States, the Philippines to the Bermudas, the Jaj^an 

 Islands to Newfoundland. As with the Gulf Stream, so also 

 here with this China current, there is a counter current of cold 

 water between it and the shore. The climates of the Asiatic 

 coast correspond with those of America along the Atlantic, and 

 those of Coliunbia, Washington, and Vancouver resemble those 

 of Western Europe and the British Islands ; the climate of Cali- 

 fornia (State) resembles that of Spain ; the sandy plains and 



