20 



LIMITS OF THE TRADE-WIND. 



therefore, a ship eventually can always make her 

 southing. The object, however, being to get past 

 the trade and into the westerly winds, which lie to 

 the southward, a ship ought to keep the wind, at 

 least a beam, while crossing the trade. In winter, 

 that is, when the sun is to the northward of the 

 equator, the trade- wind blows steadier, and its 

 southern extreme lies four or five degrees to the 

 northward of its summer limit, which may be taken 

 at about 30° or 31"^ south. 



The sun was near the equator when this passage 

 was made, and we retained the trade-wind as far as 

 31° south, after which we had northerly and north- 

 west winds as far as the Island of Mas-afuera, when 

 it shifted to south, and then to S. E. by S. blow- 

 ing fresh. This changed to S. S. E. the regular 

 coast- wind, as we drew in shore. During summer, 

 the land ought always to be made to the southward 

 of the port. In winter, when hard north winds are 

 frequent, this is not advisable. Perhaps, at such 

 seasons, a direct course for Valparaiso may be the 

 best, after losing the trade- wind. 



