The Mighty Deep 



us all. When we casually remark, "What a 

 damp day it is!" we mean, "What an amount 

 of water to-day is in the atmosphere ! " 



Water-vapour, drawn up from Ocean's broad 

 bosom, is carried far and wide "on the wings 

 of the wind/' to fall as rain where needed ; and 

 drying winds in their turn pass over regions 

 where much rain has fallen, to bear away super- 

 fluous moisture. 



A good deal was said in the last chapter about 

 oceanic currents ; and mention was made of Winds 

 as their chief cause. 



That the power of wind over water is great, 

 anybody may know who has watched the lashing 

 of the ocean into fury by a gale. But the degree 

 of that power was scarcely grasped, until within 

 the last few years. Rivers and streams in the 

 sea were long ascribed to any cause, except the 

 most weighty of all. No one supposed the im- 

 mense current-producing force to be that of Wind 

 not of mere local breezes or gales here and 

 there, but of strong constant winds, which prevail 

 month after month over wide ocean-districts. 



When a storm-wind pours up a narrowing gulf, 

 where the sea has no outlet, it often piles the 

 water up in an extraordinary manner. Hurri- 

 canes have been known to turn the entire Gulf 



62 



