2 44 
Mr. Flinders’s Observations 
from SSW to SSE, sometimes with fine, sometimes with dull 
weather, the mercury rising gradually from 30,08 to 30,22. 
In twenty-four hours afterwards, it fell below 30 inches, and 
a light breeze came from the northward, off’ the land, with 
finer weather than before. The mercury continued to fall 
to 29,56, where it stopped ; the wind having then ceased to 
blow steadily from the northward, and become variable. In 
twenty-four hours more, the wind set in again to blow fresh 
from the southward, the mercury having then returned to 
29,94, and it was presently up to 30,22 and 30,28. It kept 
nearly at this height for several days that the southwardly 
wind blew fresh, but on its becoming lighter, and less steady 
in its direction, the mercury descended ; and in the calm which 
followed, it had fallen to 29,90. This example affords clear 
proof of a fresh wind from the sea making the mercury rise, 
whilst a light wind off the land, with finer weather, caused it 
to descend. 
6 th. The calm was the prelude to a fresh gale ; but the 
mercury began to rise at eight in the evening when it had 
just sprung up; by the next noon it was at 30,10 when the 
wind blew strongest, and in the evening at 30,22. This gale 
began as gales usually, if not always, do upon this coast, in 
the north-west quarter, and shifted round to SW and SSW ; 
but quicker than I have generally seen them : there was no 
rain with it, nor was the atmosphere either very hazy or 
cloudy.* The mercury continued to rise till it had reached 
30,25, and then was stationary as long as the wind remained 
between south and west ; but on its veering round to the 
• I afterwards learned from Captain Baudin, that this gale was much heavier in 
Bass’ Strait than we felt it at Kanguroo Island. 
