APPENDIX, 163 



No. 19. 



Winds, "Weather, and Currents off Chiloe and the Chonos 



Archipelago. 



So much has been stated by Captain King (vol. i.) respecting the 

 weather at Chiloe ; and also with regard to that of the Gulf of Pefias, 

 and neighbouring coast, that I need make but few remarks. 



There is much less difference between the climate ; the prevailing 

 winds, and the order in which they follow ; the tides ; and the cur- 

 rents on the outer coast of Chiloe, and at the west entrance of Magal- 

 haens Strait, including the intermediate coasts, than persons would 

 suppose who judge only by their geographical positions. North- 

 westerly winds prevail, bringing clouds and rain in abundance. 

 South-westers succeed them, and partially clear the sky with their 

 fury ; then the wind moderates, and hauls into the south-east 

 quarter, where, after a short inter\'al of fine weather, it dies away. 

 Light airs spring up from the north-east, freshening as they veer 

 round to north, and augment the store of moisture which they always 

 bring ; from the north they soon shift to the usual quarter, north- 

 west, and between that point and south-west they shift and back 

 sometimes for weeks before they take another round turn. When 

 the wind backs (from south-west to west-north-west, &c.), bad 

 weather and strong winds are sure to follow. On that coast wind 

 never backs suddenly, but it shifts with the sim (with respect to that 

 hemisphere) very suddenly, sometimes flying from north-west to 

 south-west or south in a most violent squall. Before a shift of this 

 kind there is almost always an opening, or hght appearance, in the 

 clouds towards the south-west, which the Spaniards call an eye (ojo), 

 and for that signal the seaman ought to watch carefully. As the 

 sudden shifts are alw^ays with the sun, no man ought to be taken 

 aback unexpectedly ; for so long as a north-wester is blowing with 

 any strength, accompanied by rain, so long must he recollect that 

 the wind may fly round to the south-west quarter at any minute. It 

 never blows hard from east ; rarely with any strength from north- 

 east ; but an occasional severe gale from south-east may be expected, 

 especially about the middle of winter (June, July, August). In the 

 summer southerly winds last longer and blow more frequently than 

 they do in winter, and the reverse. The winds never go completely 



