62 OUR HERITAGE THE SEA 



Just a little north of 40 S. the westerly winds 

 begin to lose their distinctive character, and, accord- 

 ing to the season of the year, become light and 

 variable. There is, in fact, a line of doldrums between 

 the westerlies (called by meteorologists "anti-trade" 

 or "passage" winds) and the southern limit of the 

 South-East Trade, which is found in the Indian Ocean 

 as in the South Atlantic and Pacific, but with con- 

 siderable modifications. Naturally the seaman wishes 

 to avoid this belt of variables as far as possible, and 

 thus it happens that when bound to the upper part 

 of the Indian Ocean anywhere, he keeps within the 

 influence of the westerly winds as long as he possibly 

 can without making too great a detour, and then hauls 

 sharply northward. Yet I have known cases where 

 daring and enterprising masters, bound to Bombay 

 between April and September, have hauled to the 

 northward very soon after passing the meridian of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and made the passage through 

 the Mozambique Channel or between the great island 

 of Madagascar and the African continent. But such 

 a course is not usual, and hardly to be recommended 

 (of course, I am speaking of ships dependent upon the 

 wind for the propelling power throughout), for the 

 more intricate navigation, and the greater probability 

 of meeting with light and variable winds far more 

 than compensate for the saving in distance. Yet it 

 must have been used by the early Portuguese dis- 

 coverers, who would not leave the land unless com- 

 pelled, and worked their way along a coast without 

 any reference to the time it took, for time was of 

 little value in those leisurely days. But it is time 

 to close this chapter, for the consideration of the 



