TRADE-WINDS AND MONSOONS. 347 



Trade-winds blow from the same quarter during the 

 whole year. They are probably called trade-v/inds from 

 the circumstance of their strength and duration being pro- 

 pitious to commerce. Without entering into a scientific 

 disquisition on the subject, it is highly interesting to ob- 

 serve the beautiful adaptation of winds to the purposes of 

 intercourse between distant countries. In some short 

 voyages, a different disposition of winds might facilitate the 

 passage ; but with a chart of the world before the eye, it 

 will be at once conceded that to imagine monsoons where 

 trade-winds now exist, or take away land and sea-breezes, 

 placing uncertain variable winds instead, — or, in short, to 

 alter the laws which now govern winds all over the world, 

 would certainly impede intercourse by sea. It must be ob- 

 served that trade-winds are liable to be obstructed by the 

 vicinity of land, and only blow constantly in the open sea. 

 The presence of the sun in either hemisphere obstructs the 

 regularity and strength of the trade-wind in that hemi- 

 sphere, and vice versa. 



The trade-winds generally extend as far as 28° on each 

 side the equator. Between the trades there is a space of 

 light variable winds, mostly from the west, forming a kind 

 of monsoon near the equator in several parts of the globe. 

 In the Indian Ocean the south-east trade prevails from 10^ 

 south to 28° south ; from lat. 10° south to the coast of India 

 the winds are periodical. 



In Februarj-, March, April, and May, the southern limit 

 of the south-east trade in the Indian Ocean is frequently 

 extended to 30° south, and blows at this season from east 

 to east-north-east. Near Madagascar, the islands of Mau- 

 ritius and Bourbon, the trade-wind is often obstructed by 

 sudden changes and hurricanes. In one of these violent 

 storms the honourable company's China ship Dunira of 

 1300 tons was totally dismasted, and forced to seek shelter 

 at the Isle of France. She was running down the trade 

 with everj' stitch of canvass set in the morning, and before 

 midnight she lay a mere hulk on the water without a stick 

 standing.* Another and later instance may be mentioned 



* The mainmast in its fall broke through the poop-deck, and the tressel- 

 trees, which maybe about two feet apart, struck down the cot of Sir 

 William Frazer (late of the company's civil service in China), who was 

 Jying in it at the time,— passing one on each side of his breast, without 

 d»ing him the slightest injury. 



