258 THE ATMOSPHEEE AND METEOEOLOGY. 



The winds of the Eastern Mediterranean, to which the ancients 

 gave the name of Etesian winds (from eios, year), are also nothing 

 else than monsoons. These are atmospheric currents drawn from the 

 north towards the continent of Africa, by the powerful centres of at- 

 traction formed by the sands of Egypt and the Sahara. During nearly 

 the whole summer the aerial masses which repose above Southern 

 Europe are thus carried away to the coasts of Africa, and even in tem- 

 perate countries with variable winds, like Italy, Provence, and Spain, 

 it is affirmed that the predominating currents are those from the north. 

 Owing to this general movement of the air, the passage from Europe 

 to Africa is accomplished on an average more rapidly than the return- 

 ing voyage ; for the sailing vessels, which traverse the Mediterranean 

 between France and Algiers, the passage from the north to the south 

 is about a quarter less than the route in the opposite direction. All 

 the northern part of the Balearic Islands, and especially of Minorca, is 

 laid waste by a wind from the north, which stunts vegetation, and 

 causes all the trees to lean in a southerly direction.* 



* Marib-Davy, Lcs Monvcmcnts de rAtmosphtre et des Mers. 



