302 Mr. Redfield on the 
system, both in currents and winds, than perhaps in any other 
ocean; the constant and reciprocal equatorial and polar tenden- 
cies of oscillation not permitting a single circuit of revolution to 
extend from Asia to America without deflection. Hence we find 
more apparent irregularity and complexity in the currents and 
winds of mid ocean, in this vast sea, than in those regions which 
are more nearly adjacent to the continental coasts. 
A knowledge of the currents and winds of the Pacific Ocean, I 
am convinced, will serve to remove all mystery and all doubt 
from the once vexed question of the first peopling of its islands, 
from the Asiatic continent; in spite of the long urged objection 
of the opposition of the trade winds. A case is still recent where 
the wreck of a Japanese junk was drifted the entire distance to 
the Sandwich Islands, with its surviving crew; thus completing 
nearly half of the great circuit of winds and currents in the North 
Pacific. But we shall find an additional means of transport near 
the equator, which is afforded in the N. W. monsoon of the In- 
dian and Pacific oceans, and which, according to my inquiries, is 
found to extend, at one portion of the year, as far eastward as 
the Society Islands; or more than half the distance from the In- 
dian Ocean to the coast of South America. 
OF GENERAL WINDS, OR PREVAILING CURRENTS OF THE ATMOS-~ 
PHERE. 
One of the most remarkable characteristics of the atmosphere 
is its constantly progressive action; exhibited in movements 
which are more or less rapid, and mainly horizontal. 
To whatever general cause these movements may be ascribed, 
they are found in most countries to predominate in particular di- 
rections in the surface winds, but more uniformly at higher ele- 
vations. ‘The greatest uniformity of the surface winds has been 
noticed chiefly in certain zones or regions which, for the most 
part, lie between the parallels of 30° latitude, north and south; 
limits which comprise half of the earth’s surface. 'These more 
regular winds have hitherto been known best on the great routes 
of commerce, on the Atlantic and certain portions of the Indian 
oceans, and hence have been called the Trade winds. 
In order to account for the supposed uniform character of the 
trade winds, a general theory of winds has been adopted, of much 
plausibility, founded on the alleged effects of calorific rarefaction 
