APPENDIX. 539 



period the current ran to the westward— at times, a knot an 

 hour. We were then between the parallels of lU" and 13o, 

 south of which we experienced winds between S.S.W. and 

 W. until we were to the southward of the N.W. Cape, 

 when they became more southerly, and at times S.S.E., (in 

 January.) Throughout all this period, the weather was fine, 

 and different from what was expected during the westerly 

 monsoon. 



All that part of the N.W. coast of New Holland, between the 

 N.W. Cape, and Cape Londonderry, appears to be very much 

 subjected to light winds, particularly during the easterly 

 monsoon, the strength of which is not felt to the southward 

 of 13° or 14o of south latitude. During the westerly mon- 

 soon, strong winds and gales from the N.W. at times blow 

 upon the coast, but they do not appear to be frequent. The 

 strongest winds at this season, are the heavy squalls between 

 E.S.E, and N.E. (and which may with propriety be termed 

 hurricane squalls) ; fortunately they are not of long duration, 

 rarely lasting over two hours. They give ample warning of 

 their approach, by the gathering of a heavy bank of clouds 

 between N.E. and S.E., and much lightning jn that quarter. 

 Appearances such as these frequently precede the squall some 

 days, but coming gradually nearer, (to the westward). The 

 barometer shews no indication of approaching bad weather, 

 being only acted upon by the immediate change ; these squalls 

 mostly occur in the night, or between sunset and sunrise. 



During the latter part of the westerly monsoon, on that 

 part of the coast between Cape Villaret and Point Swan, we 

 found the weather remarkably fine, with the exception of an 

 occasional short, but severe squall, from the eastward. During 

 the day there was generally a moderate sea breeze between 

 N.W. and S.W. commencing in the forenoon, and lasting 

 sometimes nearly until midnight — on which occasions it 

 blew strongest during the night) ; during the other part of 

 the twenty-four hours the wind was light from the eastward or 

 calm. Captain King experienced similar weather in August. 



