148 THE OCEAN. [Book V. 



course from the Mediterranean during the night-time 

 than during the daytime. On the only occasion on 

 which I have passed through those straits, instead of 

 the current usually running eastwards, a strong cur- 

 rent was running westwards from the IMediterranean, 

 and that was during the night-time. 



These remarks on the annual and diurnal varia- 

 tions possibly resulting from the action of the orbital 

 force would not be ventured on but for the clear 

 manner in which the evidences of the action of vis- 

 inertiae, resultins; from axial rotation and onward 

 motion, accord with that indicated by the theoretical 

 consideration of their action. 



