appi-:ndix. 281 



from near Pernambuco to the vicinity of the river Plata ; and lastly^ 

 the ahnost uniformity of the time of high \A'ater along that extent of 

 -the coast of Africa which reaches from near the Cape of Good Hope 

 to the neighbourhood of the Congo. 



Against the supposition that a tide-wave travels along the west 

 coast of America, from north to south, are the facts — that the flood- 

 tide impinges upon Chiloe and the adjacent outer coast, from the 

 southward of west ; that it is high water at Cape Pillar and at Chiloe, 

 inclucUng the intermediate coast, almost at one time ; * that from 

 Valdivia to the Bay of Mexillones (differing eighteen degrees in lati- 

 tude), there is not an hour's difference in the time of high- water ; 

 that from Arica to Payta the times vary gradually as the coast 

 trends westward ; that from Panama to California, the times also 

 change gradually as the coast trends westward ; and that from forty 

 to sixty north, high water takes place at one time. 



Having thus stated a few of the difficulties to be encountered by a 

 theory which supposes such important tide -waves to move in the di- 

 rection of a meridian, rather than in that of a parallel, I will venture 

 to bring forward the results of much anxious meditation on the 

 subject, trusting that they will be received by the reader — not as 

 assertions — not as conclusions to which assent is asked without a 

 reason for acquiescence being given — ^but as the veiy^ fallible opinion 

 of one indi\'idual, who is anxious to contribute a mite, however small, 

 towards the information of those for whom this work is more parti- 

 cularly vmtten — namely, seafaring men ; and who, if his ideas are 

 fallacious, will rejoice at their refutation by the voice of truth. 



Resting in confidence upon the Nevrtonian theory — which assigns 

 as the primary causes of tides the attractions of the moon and sun — 

 I win make a few remarks, and then state some facts from which 

 to reason. 



Some persons seem to view the tidal phenomena more in con- 

 nection with what would have happened had the globe been covered 

 with water, than with reference to what actually happens, now 

 that the oceans are nearly separated by tracts of land. They appear to 

 consider that the effects of the moon's attraction (leaving the sun's out 

 of the question at present, as it is similar though smaller) are felt 

 only in vertical hues ; and they do not allow for the lateral action of 



* Within about half an hour; an irregularity easily accounted for, and 

 to which any one place is subject. 



bb 



