THE EARTH. ISO 



move at some distance from shore, in a contrary direction, tnr ten 

 dene) of that part of the air that lies between these two opposite cur 

 rents is indifferent to either, and so rests between both in torpid se- 

 renity ; and the weight of the incumbent atmosphere, being diminish- 

 ed by the continual contrary winds blowing from hence, it is unable 

 to keep the vapours suspended that are copiously borne thither ; so 

 that they fall in continual rains. 



But it is not to be supposed, that any theory can account for all the 

 phenomena of even those winds that are known to be most regular. 

 Instead of a complete system of the trade-winds, we must rather be 

 content with an imperfect history. These,* as was said, being the 

 result of a combination of effects, assume as great a variety as the 

 causes producing them are various. 



Besides the great general wind above-mentioned, in those parts of 

 the Atlantic that lie under the temperate zone, a north wind prevails 

 constantly during the months of October, November, December, and 

 January. These, therefore, are the most favourable months for em- 

 barking for the East-Indies, in order to take the benefit of these winds, 

 for crossing the Line: and it has been often found, by experience, 

 that those who had set sail five months before, were not in the least 

 farther advanced in their voyage, than those who waited for the fa- 

 vourable wind. During the winter, off Nova Zembla, and the other 

 arctic countries, a north wind reigns almost continually. In the Cape 

 de Verde Islands, a south wind prevails during the month of July. 

 At the Cape of Good Hope, a northwest wind blows during the month 

 of September. There are also regular winds, produced by various 

 causes, upon land. The ancient Greeks were the first who observed 

 a constant breeze, produced by the melting of the snows, in some 

 high neighbouring countries. This was perceived in Greece, Thrace, 

 Macedonia, and the vEgean sea. The same kind of winds are now 

 remarked in the kingdom of Congo, and the most southern parts of 

 Africa. The flux and reflux of the sea also produces some regular 

 winds, that serve the purposes of trade ; and, in general, it may be 

 observed, that wherever there is a strong current of water, there is a 

 current of air that seems to attend it. 



Beside these winds that are found to blow in one direction, there 

 are, as was said before, others that blow for certain months of the 

 year one way, and the rest of the year the contrary way ; these are 

 called the Monsoons, from a famous pilot of that name, who first used 

 them in navigation with success.t In all that part of the ocean that 

 lies between Africa and India, the east winds begin at the month o* 

 January, and continue till about the commencement of June. In the 

 month of August or September, the contrary direction takes place ; and 

 the west winds prevail for three or four months. The interval between 

 these winds, that is to say, from the end of June to the beginning of 

 August, there is no fixed wind ; but the sea is usually tossed by vio- 

 lent tempests, proceeding from the north. These winds are always 

 subject to their greatest variations, as they approach the land ; so that 

 on one side of the great peninsula of India, the coasts are, for neai 



* Buffon, vol. >i. p. 230. f Varenii Geographia Generalis. cap. 20 



