370 



AUSTEALASIA. 



regions. Nevertheless, the regular direction of these currents is considerably- 

 modified by the great centre of attraction formed by the arid solitudes of the 

 interior. The trades being deflected towards the coast are changed to easterly and 



even north-easterly winds, 



Fig. 160.— Rainfall of East Avstealia. while marine breezes set 



Scale 1 : 30,000,000. ^^^^^^^^ ,^1| j.^^^j^ J ^^^ ^^^_ 



board. In the north-west 

 the winds blowing from 

 Indonesia in the winter 

 are simply the north-east 

 trades, which, coming from 

 the northern hemisphere, 

 change their direction with 

 the cbange of zone. 



Between these two zones 

 of the south-east and north- 

 west monsoons the neutral 

 region, shifting with the 

 seasons from east to west 

 and north to south, cor- 

 responds in a general way 

 with the York Peninsula. 

 But in the south of Australia 

 the prevailing westerly 

 gales, which are often very 

 strong and even tempes- 

 tuous, find an unobstructed 

 course from the Indian to 

 the Pacific Ocean, and are 

 consequently seldom de- 

 flected from the normal 

 direction. On the mainland 

 itself the changes of the 

 dominant currents, espe- 

 cially in summer, are usually 

 accomjDanied by sudden 

 squalls known by the name 

 of "bursters." The baro- 

 meter falls rapidly, clouds 

 of dust are stirred up, the storm gathers, peals of thunder echo from the welkin, 

 and the rain comes down in torrents. In Melbourne these sudden gales from 

 the interior are called "bricklayers," from the destructive whirlwinds of dust 

 accompanying them. In the cultivated districts of the Australian coastlands no 

 summer passes without several visitations of hot winds analogous in their effects to 



[Zl EZ] ^ 



to « 

 Inches. 



6 to 10 

 Inches. 



10 to 20 

 Inches 



20 to 30 

 Inches. 



40 to 60 

 Inches 



60 Inches and 

 upwards. 



600 Miles. 



