4 
138 THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA. 
On either side of this warm current that escapes from the inter- 
tropical parts of the Indian Ocean 260), midway between Africa 
and Austraha, an ice-bearing current (Plate IX.) is found wending 
its way from the Antarctic regions with supplies of cold water to 
modify climates, and restore the aqueous equilibrium in that part 
of the world. These cold currents sometimes get as far north 
with their icebergs as 40° south. The Gulf Stream seldom per- 
mits them to get so near the equator as that in the North Atlan- 
tic, but I have known the ice-bearing current which passes east 
of Cape Horn into the South Atlantic* to convey its bergs as far 
as the parallel of 37° south latitude. This is the nearest ap- 
proach of icebergs to the equator. 
262. These currents which run out from the inter-tropical basin 
of that immense sea — Indian Ocean — are active currents. They 
convey along immense volumes of water containing vast quanti- 
ties of salt, and we know that sea water enough to convey back 
equal quantities of salt, and salt to keep up supplies for the out- 
going currents, must flow into or return to the inter-tropical re- 
gions of the same sea ; therefore, if observations were silent upon 
the subject, reason would teach us to look for currents here that 
keep in motion immense volumes of water. 
263. The Currents of the Pacific. — The contrast has been 
drawn (§ 257) between the China or " Gulf Stream" of the North 
Pacific, and the Gulf Stream of the North Atlantic. The course 
of the China Stream has never been traced out. There is (Plate 
IX.), along the coast of California and Mexico, a southwardly 
movement of waters, as there is along the west coast of Africa 
toward the Cape de Verd Islands. 
264. In the open space west of this southwardly set along the 
African coast, there is the famous Sargasso Sea (Plate IX.), 
which is the general receptacle of the drift-wood and sea-weed of 
the Atlantic. So, in like manner, to the west from California of 
this other southwardly set, lies the pool into which the drift-wood 
and sea-weed of the North Pacific are generally gathered. 
265. The natives of the Aleutian Islands, where no trees grow, 
depend upon the drift-wood cast ashore there for all the timber 
used in the construction of their boats, fishing-tackle, and house- 
hold gear. Among this timber, the camphor-tree, and other woods 
of China and Japan, are said to be often recognized. In this fact 
