ACEOSS THE EQUATOB. 491 



the land, so that 28° W. seems a safer liiait in October, though the Wind 

 Chart and Eemarks show that the Winds near South America are more 

 favourable for getting to the Southward in that month than they have 

 been since April. 



Ships bound to the Northward, whilst South of the Equator, will find 

 stronger Winds between 25" and 30° W. than in any other longitude ; 

 after crossing the Equator they will find the Southerly Wind stronger, and 

 the N.E. Trade stronger and more Easterly, in that longitude than they 

 are farther to the Eastward. 



No¥emb«r. 



Ships bound to the Southward should certainly pass to the Westward of 

 the Cape Verd Islands, for although the diagram shows that to the South- 

 ward of 16° N. the prevailing Wind is slightly stronger in the Eastern than 

 in the Western half of Square 39, the amount of Calm is greater in the 

 Eastern, especially between 14° and 16° N ; and the mean force of all 

 Winds is greatest in the Western half. After passing the Cape Verds, it 

 may be well to haul slightly to the Eastward, so as to be in 25° W. when 

 in 6° N., and then with the first of the Southerly Wind to take the tack 

 which gives the most Southing, endeavouring, if possible, not to cross the 

 Equator to the Westward of 29° W. A slight Easterly Current will pro- 

 bably be experienced between 10° and 4° N. ; in other parts it is likely to 

 be Westerly. 



Winds. — Eeferring to the Eastern half of the November Wind Chart for 

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

 Wind is not from that point : — 



the prob. is about 5 to 3 that it will be more Southerly. 

 „ ,, equal that it will be more Southerly, 



or Easterly, or North-Easterly. 

 ,t „ 2 to 1 that it win be more Easterly or 



North-Easterly. 

 »» » 5 to 1 ,, ,1 



„ „ 11 to 1 „ «, 



In November the tendency in the Wind to become more Easterly or North- 

 Easterly in the Southern part of the square is very decided. 



Current. — There is still a Westerly Current of from 20 to 30 miles in 24 

 hours, and sometimes it exceeds 30 miles ; it is strongest between 2° and 

 4° S. The per-centage of South- Westerly Current is greater in the Southern 

 part of the square than in previous months. Smooth seas are much more 

 frequent than in previous months, especially in the Southern part of the 

 Bquare. 



The Eemarks on Wind, Square 303, give cases of ships which crossed 

 the ifiquator in 30° W., or farther West. All, excepting the last two, made 

 very fair passages to 10° S.; one, a dull sailer with ligM winds, whilst the 

 other, though a fast ship, was very much hampered, but she crossed the 

 Equator in 33° 50' W. ; so that a good sailing ship need not fear crossing 

 in 31° W., if driven to do so by circumstances 



