INTRODUCTION Xlli 



aerial ocean, at the bottom of which we live like fishes 

 in the sea, to consider this exhaustively would be to 

 write a series of volumes, not a couple of chapters. 

 Yet I have hopes that a brief survey of what the wind 

 is doing for us men all over the world, and a vindi- 

 cation of what is often considered its terrible effects, 

 will be not only of interest but of use, leading readers 

 to inquire still further into the workings of this 

 wonderful, invisible friend of man. I have endea- 

 voured to cover the whole field, trade winds, passage 

 winds, and hurricanes of the various oceans, as well 

 as to touch lightly upon the nature of the work they 

 are doing and have done since the world began. In 

 this connection I have had to bring in the clouds as 

 co-workers with the winds in their beneficent work, 

 more especially in what, if we consider for a moment, 

 we shall admit to be, equally with the dissemination 

 of fresh air, the most important function of the ocean. 

 I allude to the providing of the fresh water of the 

 globe. 



Here we enter the very laboratory of Nature, open 

 to all eyes, yet so profoundly mysterious in its work- 

 ings that the keenest and most patient observers 

 disagree as to the method in which the bitter waters 

 of the eea are momentarily converted into sweet, 

 drinkable fluid and poised high in air, contained 

 within intangible reservoirs of cloud, ready to be 

 conveyed by the waiting winds to wherever it is most 

 needed. It will suffice for us to see the work going 

 on, and to follow in spirit those amazing argosies of 

 the air, blessing -lad en, holding on their stately way 

 across the firmament of heaven towards the parched 

 and barren lands lying gaspingly awaiting their 



