WINDS. 327 



perhaps a g-ale from the north-west^ which ushered 

 in the westerly monsoon. 



Our own experience of the winds during* our last 

 stay at Cape York, at the period when the change 

 of the monsoon was to be expected, may be summed 

 up as follows. During the month of October the 

 trade wind prevailed, keeping pretty steady at 

 E. S. E., and generally blowing rather strongly, 

 with hazy weather and an occasional shower. For 

 three days in the middle of the month we experi- 

 enced light north-westerly winds dying away again 

 in the evening, and on the 25th a violent squall 

 from the same quarter accompanied by very heavy 

 rain rendered it expedient that the ship should next 

 day be moved a cable's length further off shore. 

 During the four last days in the month we had calms 

 and light winds from the northward of east, as if 

 the trade were about to cease, but it commenced afresh 

 and continued until the 26th of November, generally 

 very moderate, with fine weather. During the last 

 six days of our stay we had hght airs from about 

 N. W., succeeded in the evening by a slight puff of 

 south-easterly wind followed by a calm lasting all 

 night. Last year, during the month of October, 

 we experienced no northerly or westerly winds, but 

 a moderate trade prevailed throughout, pretty steady 

 at E. S. E., but varying much in strength. 



In a place situated like Cape York, only about 

 640 miles distant from the equator, the atmospheric 

 temperature may be expected to be very high ; still 



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