100 ADEN. 
been accomplished by monsoons/' The expression in the Scrip- 
tures^ however, is not so positive ; once in three years/' and 
'' every three years once/' are very indefinite phrases, and might 
allow of any reasonable variation as to the period of time occupied 
in the voyage. Supposing, however, that he were correct as to 
this statement, I shall proceed to prove the fallacy of the grounds 
on which his arguments depend. 
His first position relative to the winds prevailing in the Red 
Sea is strikingly incorrect, as the 'monsoon' there (if it maybe so 
termed) does by no means continue for six months steadily in the 
same point either one way or the other, but, as nearly as can be 
ascertained, blows in the northern part nine months down, and in 
the southern nine months up, while in the centre of the sea the 
winds are often extremely variable.* It happens during the height 
of the south-west monsoon in the Indian Seas, in the months of 
June, July and August, that the Etesian winds from the north- 
west prevailing in the Mediterranean appear to find their way 
down the whole extent of the Red Sea, and it is in the height of 
the north-east monsoon in the Indian Seas, during the months of 
November, Decemberand January, that the south-east wind (which 
is a part of the same current of air, I conceive, as the north-east 
monsoon, only changed into a different direction by the shape of 
the coasts) forces its way up as far as Suez. Even this general 
character of the prevailing winds must be taken with some allow- 
ance, as nothing tends so much to mislead as the too general 
assertions by which some authors are accustomed to tie down the 
* Vide Sir Home Pophara's, Captain Bissell's, and Lord Valentia's remarks respecting 
these winds. 
