Of Wind and Water 



neighbourhood of so much land, for the counter- 

 influences are too many. 



From steadfast Wind-belts, giving birth to 

 steadfast Ocean-streams, we pass naturally to 

 those fitful storms which lash the ocean into 

 passing passions, and to the uncertain breezes 

 of temperate climes. 



There are currents and counter - currents, 

 breezes and contrary breezes, winds from north 

 and south and east and west, over the whole 

 earth. Each separate movement of air helps 

 to stir the waters of the sea into renewed rest- 

 lessness. 



Though few things are more wonderful than 

 those vast rivers of air and water, pouring always 

 in the same direction, century after century, they 

 are perhaps less impressive from a man's point 

 of view than many a mere whirling eddy, which 

 flings itself along, rousing a huge flurry of water, 

 and soon dying out of existence. A man cannot 

 grasp as a whole the Trades or the Roaring 

 Forties, with their companion ocean rivers. Prac- 

 tically he knows only that little portion of each 

 which happens to be near his ship. If he is 

 overtaken by a hurricane, the whole life of which 

 is compressed into a few miles of space and a 

 few hours of time, he feels a greater awe. 



67 



