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The south wuid never continues blowing during 

 the whole day with the same force : as the sun 

 approaches the mei idian it falls very considerably:, 

 and rises aoain in the afternoon. At noon^ when 

 this wind is scarcely perceptible, a fresh breeze 

 is felt from the sea^ which continues about two 

 or three hours. The husbandmen give it the 

 name of the twelve o'clock breeze^ or the coun- 

 tryman's watch^ as it serves to regulate them in 

 determining that hour. This sea-breeze returns 

 regularly at midnight^ and is supposed to be pro- 

 duced by the tide. It is stronger in autumn and 

 sometimes accompanied with hail. The east 

 winds rarely prevail in Chili;, their course being 

 obstructed by the Andes. Hurricanes, so com- 

 mon in the Antilles^, are unknown there ; there 

 cxistSj indeed, a solitary example of a hurricane, 

 which, in 1633, did much injury to the fortress 

 of Caremalpo, in the southern part of Chili. 



The mild temperature which Chili almost al- 

 ways enjoys, must depend entirely upon the succes- 

 sion of these winds, as a situation so near the tropic 

 would naturally expose it to a rnore violent de- 

 gree of heat. In addition to these, the tide, the 

 abuadant dews, and certain winds from the An- 

 des, which are distinct from the easl vvind, cool 

 the air so much in summer that, in th.; shade, no 

 one is ever iiicoramoded with perspirution. The 

 dress of the inhabitants of the sea-coast is the 

 'iiiiiiein vriiiter as in summer; and in the interior;, 



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