124 THE OCEAN. [Book V. 



divides northwards and southwards ; the latter flow- 

 ing from the equator to the temperate zone through 

 the western part of the South Atlantic, as we have 

 seen that the portion turned northwards does through 

 the western part of the North Atlantic. Through 

 the temperate zone of the South Atlantic the water 

 flows eastwards, as through the temperate zone of the 

 North Atlantic. 



Thus far we have given the general features of 

 the circulation of oceanic currents, as far as has been 

 so clearly ascertained by experience as to be no 

 longer questions of controversy. And the course of 

 the currents, as far as described in this sketch, will 

 be observed to be in close accordance with that of 

 the currents which, under the theoretical action of 

 vis-inertiag described in Book 11. , tend to form 

 the oceanic districts shown in the chart on Plates I. 

 and II. of this volume, and also in Plate VI. 



It is well known that in the Great Southern 

 Ocean a current flows northwards from the Antarctic 

 regions of the Pacific, brmging with it icebergs, 

 which, on reaching the eastward current already 

 described, are carried eastwards towards Cape Horn ; 

 and a similar movement of icebergs towards the 

 Cape of Grood Hope from the Antarctic regions of the 

 Atlantic appears to indicate the existence of a north- 

 ward current from the Antarctic regions of the 

 Atlantic analogous to that wliich flows from the 

 Antarctic regions of the Pacific. Those portions of 



