APPENDIX F. 429 



TEXAS NOKTHEES. 



Nurriber and Duration. — 1. During seven or eight months of every 

 year, Texas is liable to a class of storms, or winds, styled " northers, 

 from the direction &om which they come. 



3. In the year 1857, there were twenty-six northers experienced at 

 the Texas Military Institute, in Fayette county. Of these some two or 

 three were gentle or baffled northers. They occupied fifty-seven days, 

 having an average of two and one-fifth days in length. The latest in 

 spring, was May 16, and earliest in autumn, was Nov. 7. 



3. In the year 1858, there were thirty-seven northers, about thirty- 

 three of which might be classed as weU ma/rked, the others being either 

 gentle or baffled northers. These occupied seventy-eight days. The 

 latest in spring, was May 9, and the earliest in autumn, was Oct. 7. 



4. In the first half of 1859, there have been twenty-four northers, of 

 which four may be described as gentle or baffled northers. They have 

 occupied forty-seven days in their transit, and the latest was May 24. 



5. It is proper to remark that nearly all the northers of May and 

 October are mild, and rarely do much damage, or produce so low a 

 temperature as to be severely felt. All the other months, November to 

 April inclusive, are liable to northers of considerable severity. 



6. It appears then, that in thirty months last past, of which eighteen 

 months are liable to distinct northers, we have experienced eighty 

 northers, not including the feeble ones of May and October. The same 

 period has seventy-seven weeks, very nearly affirming the hypothesis of 

 weekly returns of the norther. An inspection of the table shows a large 

 number of pimctual weekly recurrences of this meteor. 



7. At this place of observation their duration varies from one to four 

 days. 



Area and Boundaries of Norther. — 8. The region over which this 

 peculiar storm has its sweep, is not very great, though its precise limits 

 can not be defined. By diligent inquiry from persons of great experi- 

 ence, we submit the following limits : 



9. On the north, by the valley of Red river, in the Indian Territory; 

 on the east, by the second tier of counties from the east boundary of 

 Texas, near meridian 95°, south to the Trinity and thence south-east to 

 the mouth of the Sabine. On the south they are felt across the Gulf, to 

 the coast of South-Mexico and Yucatan. On the west they are bounded 

 by the Sierra Madre, up to the mouth of the Pecos, and thence by about 

 the 101st meridian to the sources of Red river. 



10. Within this area, there are various degrees of violence, having 

 their axis of intensity between meridians 97 and 98, and increasing in 

 force and duration, the further south. At Red river, on this line, they 

 are usually limited to a day or two ; whereas at Corpus Christi and 

 Matamoras, one norther often continues till the next supersedes it ; and 

 at Vera Cruz, a twenty-days norther is not remarkable. 



"West of Fort Belknap, to the Pecos, the northers grow feebler and 

 rarer. North of Red river, on the route from Fort Washita to Fort 

 Smith, they are rarely felt. 



On the east margin they are much modified by the forests of the 

 timbered region. At all points, an open prairie increases their vigor. 



