JEBA RIVER. 569 



to make periodical trips to sea for a day or two, to preserve the health of 

 the crews. Severe Tornados are sometimes experienced in July. (See 

 also pages 166 — 168.) 



Between the Gambia and the Isles de Los, the rainy season sets in 

 between April 1st and June 1st, lasting to the end of November or even 

 December, the rain being almost continuous during July and August. 

 The fine season sets in with the Harmattan (page 164), which blows 

 between S.E. and N.E. In this season, when near the coast, light East 

 and N.N.E. winds are experienced during the morning, the sea-breeze 

 usually setting in after mid-day. Tornados occur in April, May, Sep- 

 tember, and October. 



Casamanze River. — During the dry season, October to May, winds 

 between N.N.W. and E.N.E. prevail, and they are variable from the 

 West during the rest of the year. Thick fogs are common throughout the 

 year. 



JEBA RIVER. — Currents. — Vessels approaching the coast hereabout 

 must beware of the current, as the usual prevailing currents on the coast 

 to the northward of Cape Roxo are found to be completely changed on 

 passing this cape. They have here no longer one direction only ; and, 

 in all the channels of the Bissagos, are suspended by tides, which are more 

 or less regular. In March, 1856, Captain Canal, of the French ship Agly, 

 proceeding to Bissao, encountered a most powerful southerly current. 

 He had allowed for 1^ knot, but having become entangled to the South of 

 Karasche he found that he had been set at the rate of 3 miles fer hour 

 (see pages 323—324). 



In proportion to the distance from the mouth of the Jeba or Great 

 Channel of Bissagos, either to the northward or southward, the tides lose 

 their regularity. The interruption in the tides is evident in going to the 

 southward, as, at a few miles South of the parallel of the Western Breaker, 

 11° 31' N., they are no longer perceptible, even on the edge of Bissagos 

 Bank. 



Winds. — In Jeba River approach the winds follow nearly the direction 

 of the land, and vary their course according to that of the channel. In 

 Jeba or Great Channel they vary from West to North ; at the anchorage 

 of Bissao they are generally from S.W., except in the morning, when they 

 are from the North. In the rainy season, which commences here in the 

 beginning of June, and continues about five months, they blow from the 

 S.E., with Tornados, as on the whole coast, and then, passing round by 

 South, return to the North. 



In the Eastern Channel the winds are generally light during the fine 

 season, particularly in the night or morning. They set in gradually in 

 the afternoon, and blow almost always from S.S.W. round by West to 

 N.N.W. , but they remain a very short time at any intermediate point, 

 and soon follow the direction of the land, which, as far as could be deter- 

 mined, trends nearly N. by E. and S. by W. Easterly winds are limited 

 entirely to the rainy season. 



RIO NUNEZ. — The Climate is very unhealthy, especially in winter, 

 when there is much foggy weather ; November and December are the 

 worst months. The rainy season is from May to September, and at this 

 N. A, 0. 73 



