168 
METEOROLOGICAL AND 
this, a heavy gale. The NE. wind is an uncommon wind 
at the Cape. I have seen moderate and hght breezes from 
the NE. for twenty-four hours, but this is rare. A NW. or 
SW. gale sometimes commences with the wind NE., and it 
may blow very hard, with squals, for an hour or two, from 
this quarter ; I think rarely longer than two hours. A ship 
ought to be prepared when this occurs, as the wind will most 
certainly fly round to the SW. or NW. at once. And what- 
ever tack the ship might have been on before, she ought now 
to get upon the starboard tack ; for after it has blown hard 
from the SW., and a heavy sea has got up (this wind 
raises the heaviest sea), it frequently flies round to the 
NW. suddenly ; and it is those sudden shifts of wind which 
make the sea off the Gape of Good Hope so dangerous. 
The following example shews the state of the Barometer 
during a heavy gale in winter. The quicksilver here fell 
as low as 29-45, which was lower by .20 of an inch than I 
had ever observed it before. 
1819. 
May 31, 
June 1 j 
June 2« 
Time of 
day. 
8 p. M. 
8 A. M. 
Noon. 
8 p. M. 
2 1 A. M. 
4 A. M. 
8 A. M. 
10 A. M. 
Noon. 
11 p. M. 
2 p. M. 
4 p. M. 
6 p. M. 
Wind. 
SSE. 
NE.byN, 
NE.byN, 
N. by E. 
SW. 
wsw. 
wsw, 
W.byS, 
W, 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Barom. 
30,10 
29,93 
29,83 
29,66 
29,50 
29,4-5 
29,56 
29,70 
29,71 
29,79 
29,81 
29,90 
30,00 
Therm. 
60 
58 
591 
}59i 
59J 
60 
State of the Weather. 
Light airs, and fine weather. 
Mod- not blowing very strong. 
Moderate weather. 
J At 14 A. M. very heavy squalls 
\ from NE. 
. Blowing strong and squally. 
Jit had been blowing hard from 
j NE. when we were taken a- 
^ back from SW. a heavy gale, 
f Blowing very hard ; a heavy 
( sea getting up. 
, Now that the quicksilver has 
J begun to rise, the squalls are 
j heavier than ever, with rain, 
^ but do not last so long. 
Still blowing strong, 
And squally, but more mod. 
J Sun out ; at times much more 
( moderate. Heavy sea. 
Moderate, with much sea. 
f Moderate and clear ; light 
( winds at times. 
