APPEiNDlX. 543 



In the month of July, we found the winds between Booby 

 Island and Port Essington, fresh from the eastward, veering 

 at times to E.S.E. and occasionally to S.E.. but rarely to the 

 northward of east. Close to the land these winds are not so 

 constant, but take more the character of land and sea breezes, 

 and the nights are mostly calm ; this we found to be the case 

 during part of the months of July and August, while at 

 anchor in Port Essington. The general course of the winds 

 during that period was as follows. A little before sunrise, a 

 breeze sprang up from S. or S.S.E. which gradually be- 

 came more easterly as the sun approached the meridian; some- 

 times in the middle of the day, it was light from the eastward, 

 or calm, and at other times veered gradually to N.E., from 

 which quarter there came a fresh sea breeze every afternoon ; 

 this breeze lasted until sunset, and at times later, but the 

 nights were always calm. 



We experienced similar winds between Melville Island 

 and Port Essington, but being a short distance from the 

 land, the nights were not calm, although the winds were very 

 light. 



During the easterly monsoon, it is difficult to get to the 

 eastward, as at a few miles from the land the current is 

 always running to the westward, and runs strong past the pro- 

 jecting points ; but by contriving to be near the land at day- 

 light, at which time the wind is always more southerly, 

 something may be gained. 



At Port Essington, the rainy season can scarcely be said to 

 set in before the middle of November ; there is then, squally, 

 dirty weather, with rain from the westward and N.W., and 

 at this season, there are at times heavy squalls from S.E. 

 accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning. 



In 1838, the westerly monsoon set in at Port Essington, in 

 the first week in November ; there had been no rain before 

 that. 



THE END. 



C. NORMAN, PRINTER, MAIDEN LANE, COVENT GARDEN. 



