WINDS MAPPED OtJT. 85 



of a river, whose surface is affected by the compara- 

 tively trifling influences of wind, rain, and drought, 

 but whose grand onward course is never for a single 

 moment interrupted. 



Among these disturbing influences, the Gulf 

 Stream is a very important one. It is constantly 

 sending up large volumes of steam, which, rising 

 into the air, induce a flow of wind from both sides 

 towards its centre. And many of the storms that 

 arise in other parts of the Atlantic make for this 

 stream, and follow its course. 



So much has been ascertained by scientific inves- 

 tigation of the winds, that we can now distinctly 

 map out the great belts or currents which pass 

 right round the world. We can tell in which 

 parallels winds with easting, and in which those 

 with westing, in them, will be most frequently 

 found: and by directing our course to such places, 

 we can to a certain extent count upon profiting by 

 the winds that will be most suitable. Before the 

 facts of atmospheric circulation were known, mariners 

 sailed by chance. If they happened to get into the 

 belt of wind that suited them, their voyages were 

 favourable ; if they got into the wrong region, their 

 voyages were unfavourable, that was all. But they 

 had no idea that there was any possibility of turn- 

 ing the tables, and, by a careful investigation of 

 the works of the Creator, coming at last to such 

 knowledge as would enable them to reduce 

 winds and waves, in a great degree, to a state 



