28 TOPOGRAPHY 



The foregoing' tables show a striking difference in 

 the heat of the summers of 1844 and 1845 ; and I 

 might here observe, that the former was a very unu- 

 sually hot summer, and the latter a very pleasant and 

 agreeable one. 



The barometer seldom rises higher than thirty 

 inches, or sinks lower than 29*300 ; the average daily 

 range being about 0-150. 



Gibraltar is much exposed to all the changes of 

 wind. The south-easterly wind generally prevails for 

 nearly half the year. In some years there is less of 

 it, much to the satisfaction of the garrison, as it is 

 considered by most people a very unwholesome wind. 

 This leads us to the consideration of the climate of 

 Gibraltar. Various are the opinions advanced upon 

 this subject, but as I do not intend this description of 

 Gibraltar to be received in the light of its medical 

 Topography, I shall briefly sum up my observations on 

 this head, reserving for a future opportunity a more 

 detailed account. The climate of Gibraltar had been 

 represented to me as equal to any in the south of 

 Europe, but great was my disappointment not to find 

 it what I expected. The heat of summer is more 

 oppressive than even the thermometrical observations 

 would indicate, owing principally to the want of a free 

 circulation of air, which is prevented by the height 

 and peculiar configuration of the rock, most of the 

 winds blowing only in certain quarters of the rock, 

 and often when the wind is raging tempestuously on 

 the eastern side, there is scarcely a breath of wind in 

 the town of Gibraltar : then the only consolation 



