APPENDIX. 537 



On the North-West Coast of Australia. 



The great extent of the N. W. coast of Australia, lying as 

 it does between the parallels of 12° and 22^ of south latitude, 

 no doubt subjects it to a variety of winds and weather, that is not 

 experienced on the north coast ; although, on that part of it 

 north of the parallel of 15", there is probably much similarity. 



As I cannot speak with certainty of the winds and weather 

 that prevail on this extent of coast, at all seasons of the year, 

 the following remarks will be confined to such portions of it 

 as were visited by the Beagle, and will apply only to the par- 

 ticular seasons in which she was employed there. 



To the eastward of the meridian of 123° east longitude, and 

 at a short distance from the land, the east and west monsoons 

 will be found regular ; but the easterly monsoon is very light 

 to the southward of ]3o latitude. 



Between Clarence Straits and Cambridge Gulf, and during 

 the months of September, October, November, and December, 

 the wind during the day is a sea breeze between N. W. and 

 W. In September, and until the middle of October, we 

 found the wind as follows : — About sun-rise, a light breeze 

 sprang up from S. E. or E. which gradually drew to the 

 northward towards the middle of the day. In the afternoon, 

 a sea breeze from N. W. or west, becoming light towards 

 sunset, but freshening again soon after that, and blowing a 

 moderate and pleasant breeze between N. W. and S. W. all 

 night. 



During the latter part of the period, (November and De- 

 cember) the winds were more constantly from the W. or 

 W, N, W., blowing from that quarter throughout the twenty- 

 four hours, but much more moderate at night than during the 

 day ; at full and change of the moon, the breezes were much 

 stronger that at other times, and upon one or two occasions, at 

 the time of the moon's quartering, there was a light breeze 

 from S. E. in the morning. 



During the month of November, the ship was at anchor. 



