MONSOONS. 93 



the world. We have read of one so violent that it 

 " forced the Gulf Stream back to its sources, and 

 piled up the water in the Gulf to the height of 

 thirty feet. A vessel named the Ledbury Snow 

 attempted to ride it out. When it abated, she 

 found herself high up on the dry land, having let 

 go her anchor among the tree-tops of Elliott's quay ! 

 The Florida quays were inundated many feet ; and 

 it is said the scene presented in the Gulf Stream 

 was never surpassed in awful sublimity on the 

 ocean. The water thus dammed up rushed out 

 with frightful velocity against the fury of the gale, 

 producing a sea that beggared description." 



The monsoons of the Indian Ocean are among 

 the most striking and regular of the locally-caused 

 winds. Before touching on their causes, let us 

 glance at their effects. They blow for nearly six 

 months in t)ne direction, and for the other six in 

 the opposite direction. At the period of their 

 changing, terrific gales are frequent gales such as 

 we, in our temperate regions, never dream of. 



What is termed the rainy season in India is the 

 result of the south-west monsoon, which for four 

 months in the year deluges the regions within its 

 influence with rain. 



The commencement of the south-west monsoon is 

 described as being sublime and awful beyond 

 description. Before it comes, the whole country is 

 pining under the influence of long-continued drought 

 and heat ; the ground is parched and rent ; scarcely 



