106 On Similarities in the 



on the European side of the Straits. Similarly, off Mogador 

 the temperature of the surface water inshore is 60 F., while 

 it is 70 F. 20 miles out at sea. The delightful climate of 

 Tangiers and the low temperature of Mogador are directly 

 due to the existence of this water on the shore. The same 

 comparatively cool water is found all the way down the African 

 coast as far as Cape Verde 1 . 



On the west coast of South Africa there is not much 

 experience of sea-water temperatures, but the characteristics 

 of the climate on shore are a low temperature, much cloud 

 and mist, no rain, and barren waterless country. On the 

 Atlantic side of the Cape of Good Hope the surface water 

 inshore has a temperature about 10 F. lower than the water 

 on the Indian Ocean side of the Cape, and all the way north- 

 wards as far as St Paul de Loanda the barrenness of the land 

 is more than compensated by the fruitful ness of the sea, which 

 everywhere abounds with fish, indicating cold water. 



The abnormally cold water found on the west coast of 

 South America has been well known since the beginning of 

 the century, principally by the works of Humboldt. In the 

 months of April and May of 1885, I made the voyage along 

 the coast, from Valparaiso to San Francisco, and carefully 

 observed the temperature and density of the surface water 

 several times a day. 



My voyage being made in the months of April and May, 

 the season was autumn in the southern hemisphere, and spring 

 in the northern. The water ought therefore to have been 

 about its highest temperature during the cruise along the 

 coast of South America. As on the coast of Morocco, it was 

 observed that the lowest temperature was always found closest 

 inshore, also that the cold inshore water was green, while 

 some miles out it was warm, and of the deep ultramarine 

 peculiar to tropical ocean water. From Coquimbo to Pisagua 

 the temperature averaged 60 F., being as low as 57 just 

 outside Coquimbo, and being actually 60 F. in Pisagua anchor- 

 age, in lat. 19 30' S. At Arica it was 67 F., and crossing 

 the bight, where the course lay in open water, the temperature 



1 See Contents, p. xix. 



