APPENDIX. 227 



Winds on the Coast of Chile. 



Very few words will suffice to give strangers to the coast of 

 Chile a clear idea of the winds and weather they may expect to 

 find there, for it is one of the least uncertain climates on the face 

 of the globe. 



From the parallel of 35° S., or thereabouts, to near 25° S., the 

 wind is southerly, or south-easterly, during nine months out of 

 twelve ; in part of the other three there are calms, or light 

 variable breezes, and the remainder is really bad weather : northerly 

 gales and heavy rain prevailing, not only on the coast, but far 

 across the ocean in parallel latitudes. 



From September to May is the fine season, during which the skies 

 of Chile are generally clear, and, comparatively speaking, but little 

 rain falls. I do not, however, mean that there are not occasional 

 exceptions to the general case : strong northers have been known 

 (though rarely) in summer ; and two or three days of hea-^y rain, 

 with but little intermission, now and then disturb the equanimity 

 of those who have made arrangements with implicit confidence in 

 the serenity of a summer sky. These unwelcome interruptions are 

 rarer, and of less consequence, northward of 31° than they are to 

 the south of that parallel : so nearly uniform, indeed, is the climate 

 of Coquimbo, that the city is called * La Serena.' 



In settled weather a fresh southerly wind springs up a little before 

 noon (an hour sooner or later), and blows till about sunset, occa- 

 sionally till midnight. This wind is sometimes quite furious in the 

 height of summer ; so strong, indeed, that ships may be prevented 

 from working into anchorages, especially Valparaiso Bay, although 

 they may take every previous precaution, by sending down top- 

 gallant yards, striking top-gallant masts, and close-reefing their 

 sails. But the usual strength of the southerly sea-breeze (as it is 

 called, though it blows along the land from the south) is such as a 

 good ship would carry double-reefed top-sails to, while working to 

 windward. 



This is also nearly the average strength of a southerly wind in 

 the open sea, between the parallels above-mentioned, and there it is 

 neither so strong by day, nor does it die away at night. Within 

 sight of the land a ship finds the wind freshen and diminish, 



