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CHAPTER XL 



EVIDENCES OF THE CURRENT-CREATING ACTION OF VIS- 

 INERTIA, RESULTING FROM THE AXIAL ROTATION 

 OF THE EARTH. 



PART I. 



EVIDENCES OP THE EXISTENCE OF THE CURRENTS DE- 

 SCRIBED AS ENCLOSING THE OCEANIC DISTRICTS SHOWN 

 ON THE CHARTS ON PLATES I. AND II. 



In the equatorial regions, from the eastern parts of 

 the Pacific Ocean, there is a constant motion of the 

 ocean westwards ; and the water carried westwards 

 by this motion is as constantly replaced by currents 

 flowing towards the equator from the directions of 

 California and Chili. In the western part of the 

 Pacific, the water brought to that part of the ocean 

 through the equatorial regions is poured northwards 

 and southwards from the equator, a portion also 

 continuing its westward coarse through the channels 

 leading into the Indian Ocean. 



The water turned northwards from the equatorial 

 regions in the western part of the Pacific Ocean 

 meets, near the Japan Islands, with a stream of cold 



