ACKOSS THE EQUATOR. 439 



August. 



Ships hound to the Southward should pass to the Westward of the Cape 

 Verd Islands, where the N.E. Trade is stronger than to the Eastward of 

 them. On getting the first of the South- Westerly Winds in about 

 10° or 12° N., they should stand to the South-Eastward, not fearing the 

 effect of the Easterly Current which prevails between 10'' and 4° N., as a 

 pretty strong Westerly Current may be expected to the Southward of 

 4° N. The diagram shows that the prevailing Southerly wind becomes 

 more Easterly as the Equator is approached, so that the requisite Easting 

 should be made with the firsi of the Southerly Wind ; and as the Winds 

 near Cape St. Roque are more Southerly and unsettled than they are 

 farther to the Eastward, it is important to cross the Equator well to the 

 Eastward, say in longitude 25° or 26° W., or even 2° or 3° farther to the 

 Eastward. 



Winds. — Referring to the Eastern half of the August Wind Chart for 

 Square 303, and taking S.E. by E. as a central point, then, when the 

 Wind is not from that point: — 



Between 0° & 6° S. the prob. is about 2 to 1 that it will be more Southerly. 

 6°& 8°S. „ „ 5tol 



8° & 10° S. „ „ 2 to 1 



»» 



The Wind is still remarkably Southerly between 6° and 8° S., off the moat 

 Eastern part of South America. 



Current. — The Westerly Current is still strong; strongest in the Northern 

 half of the square. Southerly and confused swells are very frequent. 



The Remarks on Wind, Square 303, give cases of ships that were ham- 

 pered by the South American land ; one, a fast iron ship, having crossed 

 the Equator as far East as 27° 22' W. 



Ships bound to the Northward should avoid the South American land, as 

 the Wind is lighter to the Westward of 33° W. than it is to the Eastward 

 of that meridian. They should be in 25° W., or farther West, on crossing 

 the parallel of 10° N., as the N.E. Trade is stronger and extends farther 

 South on the Western side of the district than it does near the Cape Verd 

 Islands. 



September. 



Ships bound to the Southtvard should pass to the Westward of the Cape 

 Verd Islands, where they will have a better N.E. Trade than to the East- 

 ward. On getting the South- Westerly Wind in 10° or 12° N., they should 

 stand to the South-Eastward ; that Wind, with the prevailing Easterly 

 Current, will carry them fast to the Eastward, but the diagram shows that 

 to the Southward of 4° N. the prevailing Wind is South-Easterly, and the 

 Current Westerly, which will carry them fast to the Westward. 



N. A.O. 63 



