146 OBSEEVATIONS ON THE WINDS. 



and calms. Id September, October, November, December, and January, 

 the prevailing winds are from the S.W. and N.W. quarters, with frequent 

 heavy gales from W.S.W. to W.N.W. and North. 



On the North Coast of Yucatan, between Cape Catoche and Campeche, 

 the N.B. Trade "Wind prevails, with North winds during their season. 

 From June to September the weather is squally. 



On the Coast of the Mexican Sea, from Vera Cruz to Tampico, the breeze 

 from E.S.E. and East prevails in April, May, June, and July ; and at night 

 the land-breeze comes off from South to S.W. ; but if the land-breeze is 

 from the N.W., with rain, the wind, on the day following, will be from 

 North, N.N.E., or N.E., particularly in August and September; these 

 winds are denominated, in the country, Vientos de Cabeza or Vendavales 

 (head or down-coast winds) ; they are not strong, nor do they raise the 

 sea ; with them, therefore, a vessel may take an anchorage as well as with 

 the general breeze ; but they impede getting out, for which the land-breeze 

 is required. These Vientos de Cabeza, or head winds, reach 60 to 90 miles 

 from the coast, at which distance those at East and E.S.E. are found. 



(70.) From the middle of September until the month of March, caution 

 is necessary in making Vera Cruz, for the Norths are then very heavy. 

 The narrowness of this harbour, the obstruction formed by the shoals at 

 its entrance, and the slender shelter it affords from the Norths, render an 

 attempt to make it, during one of them, extremely dangerous, for it will 

 be impossible to take the anchorage. The following description of the winds 

 here was written by Don Bernardo de Orta, a captain in the Spanish Navy, 

 who was captain of the port, and surveyed it. 



Although in the Mexican Sea it cannot be said that there is any other 

 constant wind than the general Trade breeze of this region, yet, from Sep- 

 tember to March, the North winds interrupt the general course, and in some 

 degree divide the year into two seasons, wet and dry, or of the Breezes and 

 Norths ; the first, in which the breezes are settled, is from March to Sep- 

 tember ; and the second, in which the Norths blow, is from September to 

 March. For greater clearness we shall explain each separately. 



(71.) The Norths.— The first of the Norths is regularly felt in the month 

 of September ; but in this month and the following one, October, the Norths 

 do not blow with much force. Sometimes it happens that they do not 

 appear: but, in that case, the breeze is interrupted by heavy rains and 

 Tornados. In November the Norths are established, blow with much 

 strength, and continue a length of time, during December, January, and 

 February. In these months, after they begin, they increase fast ; and in 

 four hours, or a Uttle more, attain their utmost strength, with which they 

 continue blowing for forty-eight hours ; but afterward, though they do not 

 cease for some days, they are moderate. In these months the Norths are 

 obscure and North- Westerly, and they come on so frequently that there is, 

 in general, not more than four or six days between them. In March and 

 April they are neither so frequent, nor last so long, and are clearer, but yet 

 they are more fierce for the first twenty-four hours, and have less North- 

 Westing. In the interval before November, in which, as we have said, the 

 Norths are established, the weather is beautiful, and the general breeze 

 blows with great regularity by day ; the land-breeze as regularly by night. 



