STORMS. 331 



945. "Hurricanes are sometimes observed upon the limits of 

 the African monsoon, and upon the limits of the monsoon of the 

 East Indian Archipelago. In this Archipelago right heavy spouts 

 are seldom seen. Hurricanes never have been observed in the 

 southern hemisphere, between 88° and 90° east longitude ; they 

 are also found in September in 13° north latitude and 29° west 

 longitude, and in 16° 33^ north latitude and 24° 20^ west longi- 

 tude-; the latter also in 18° north latitude and 25° west longitude, 

 and in 16° 30^ north latitude and 26° 40" west longitude ;* yet 

 not m the monsoon — so much is known to me — but right upon 

 its limits ; also ^?^ the equatorial belt which wavers about the 

 monsoon, and which becomes narrower and narrower as it recedes 

 from the equator. 



946. "]N'ow, when we remember what is said (§ 820) of the 

 sj)ring changing in the southern hemisphere, which agrees with 

 the autumnal changing in the northern hemisphere, and think of 

 the combat which is then so manifestly waged between the vari- 

 ous currents of ah* and the numerous spouts which arise in the 

 East Indian Archipelago by the aid of small groups of islands, 

 then we shall be less surprised to find a similar effect produced 

 upon the limit of the African monsoon, especially when it pushes 

 the equatorial belt of calms quite over to a portion of the Cape 

 Yerd Islands. When we take into account that this belt becomes 

 narrower and narrower as it is removed from the equator — that also 

 the different currents of air, which draw in opposite directions, lie 

 closer to each other — that the southwest and northwest winds ap- 

 proach very near to each other, and that the latter, in August and 

 September, are deflected out of their course by the heights of the 

 Cape Verd Islands, then not much m.ore is necessary to enable 

 one to comprehend why a wind which, coming from the north- 

 east, and veering by the north around to the northwest, should, 

 as it meets the southwest winds, make a complete revolution, 

 and in so doing form a whirlwind, which would go traveling 

 through the northeast trade-wind, especially when the moisture 

 and electricity of these air cui'rents are different, as is generally 

 the case. And seeing also that the northeast trade-wind, as it 



* Redfield. 



