OF THE PACIFIC. 205 



higher temperature, both at the surface and in its 

 depths, than is found in the neighbouring part of 

 the ocean. To this constant influx must probably 

 be attributed the fact, that the Mediterranean con- 

 tains a somewhat larger proportion of salt than 

 does the Atlantic, whose degree of saltness has 

 been found to be almost exactly the same in all 

 latitudes. For the contrary reason, the Baltic con- 

 tains less salt than does the ocean. 



In the Pacific Ocean, as well as in the Atlantic, 

 a westward current is observed, which reaches, 

 having the breadth of the whole torrid zone, from 

 the coast of America to those of New Hol- 

 land, and of the Indian Archipelago. The 

 best known of its tributaries is the Peruvian 

 current of cold water, which, flowing from the 

 Antarctic Sea into the great ocean, turns in an 

 eastward direction towards the American coast, in 

 the latitude of Chiloe, and there separates into two 

 branches, — a northern, and a southern. The 

 latter flows along the coast as far as Terra del 

 Fuego, and around Cape Horn into the Atlantic. 

 The northern branch runs with great speed * 



* Favoured by this current, ships run in eight or nine 

 days from Valparaiso to Callao, and in four or live days 

 from Callao to Guayaquil, while they often require as 

 many weeks for the return voyages. 



