HISTORYOFTHEWORK. xix 



ill explorations for the Eusso-American telegraph line. The results of all these 

 observations, with the exception of those of Dr. Kane, at Van Rensselaer Harbor, 

 are in accordance with the doctrine in question. And in regard to these latter, 

 which are utterly discordant, it is worthy of remark, that while the mean direction 

 of the wind is almost diametrically opposite to what it is at Port Foulke, only a 

 few leagues distant, the progressive motion in the mean direction is very small, in- 

 dicating local disturbance. For I have found, as a very general rule, the world 

 over, that wherever, from local causes, the atmospheric current is diverted from 

 its mean course, the progressive motion is reduced. Northeastern Asia merits a 

 more careful study, and I have long made efforts to procure observations there- 

 from, but without any prospect of success, until 1869, when I was so fortunate as 

 to receive from the Meteorological Committee of the Geographical Society of 

 Irkutsk, in Eastern Siberia, an offer of co-operation. It is still difficult to obtain 

 the requisite observations, as the region to be studied lies north of all the settled 

 parts of Siberia, and aid can probably be had only from missionaries of the Russian 

 church, stationed at some of the' settlements on the rivers flowing into the Arctic 

 Ocean. In respect to these localities I acknowledge aid received through the 

 kindness of Col. Thomas W. Knox, of New York, and George Kennan, of Nor- 

 walk, Ohio. 



"In the same report, above named, I pointed out and illustrated the peculiar 

 '~^^-' ' S-shaped' curves described by the wind in its mean course for the different 

 months or seasons of the year, on both sides of the Atlantic, though I was not 

 then prepared to fully explain them, nor did I perceive the interesting conclusions 

 about to be deduced from them. [Illustrations of these curves are found in Plate 

 26, which also exhibits the graphical method of deriving from them the monsoon 

 influences, which determine the direciion and amount of their curvature. The 

 manner of computing them is explained in the Preface.] 



"The results reached in this report, with the data from which they were derived, 

 forming a quarto volume of 200 pages, were subsequently published in the Smith- 

 sonian Contributions to Knowledge, constituting a part of Vol. VI. This, though 

 as perfect as the materials known could make it, and pointing out truths of import- 

 ance never before recognized, was, as was soon perceived, not what it ought to be. 

 On sending it abroad the meager filling up of portions of the eastern continent was 

 noticed, and persons residing there kindly lent their aid in procuring material to 

 fill them. Among these I may mention particularly Chevalier Kahnikoff, Mr. 

 Wesselesky and Prof. Kaemtz of Russia, and Prof Buys Ballot, Director of the 

 Royal Observatory of Holland, from whom collectively I received records from not 

 less than one hundred new places ; and by the exchanges and collections of the 

 Smithsonian Institution many more were added. Subsequently additional offers 

 of aid were received from the eminent European meteorologists, Alexander 

 Buchan, of Scotland, Dr. Alexander J. Woeikof, of Russia, Baron Meydall, and 

 Messrs. Aguilar and Mack. In the mean time in this country, the acquisition of 

 California, New Mexico, and Arizona largely increased the number of military 

 posts at which observations were taken, while by the active efforts of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution there was secured a vast number of new observers in all parts 



