3*6 
HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
The Winds which prevail in the Eastern Seas. 
44 In all the extent of sea between the Cape of Good Hope and the coast of 
New Holland, to the south of the parallel of 28° of latitude, the winds are variable 
throughout the year. It is true that the west, north-west, and north winds, frequently 
prevail there, and that they sometimes pass to the north-east; but it may be said, 
in general, that the winds are never constant in this part of the Eastern Seas. 
“ From the parallel of 28° latitude, in proceeding towards the north, at the east of 
Madagascar, the winds blow from south-east to east throughout the year: they are 
called general winds , not only because they prevail in the Eastern Ocean, but also 
in all the South Seas; with this exception, however, that in the latter, their region 
extends to about the Equinoctial line; whereas in the Eastern Ocean, it appears 
to be confined to between the parallel of 28°, and that of 8° to 9 0 in some places, 
and of 11 0 to 12 0 in others; particularly to the south of Java, and other islands 
to the east. 
“ This regulation of the winds, though tolerably constant, is nevertheless subject 
to variations, when the sun is in its southern district; that is, in the months of Octo¬ 
ber, November, December, January, to the 15th of April, when it may be said, in 
some degree, to change the state of the atmosphere. The winds then blow from 
the north-west, and sometimes from the west by south, particularly towards the 
change of the moon.* 
" This disposition of the winds is principally known between the Island of Ma¬ 
dagascar, and the Isles of Bourbon, France, and Rodriguez. It serves for vessels 
to go up from one island to another, in much less time than in the other months of 
the year. It is in this season also that hurricanes and tempests prevail in the region 
subject to the general winds. 
“ It is observed, that in the Indies there are four monsoons or seasons, during 
which the winds commonly blow six months one way and six the other. 
* 4 The south-west monsoon reigns to the north of the Equinoctial line, while that 
* “ Though I represent here, as well as throughout this memoir, the quarters, the full, and 
the springs of the moon, as producing the change in the winds, it must not be inferred from 
thence, that it is my opinion that they immediately depend on these phases, exclusively of every 
other concurrent circumstance. This expression is merely employed to conform to the general 
practice of seamen ; being well aware that the observations on this point are neither sufficiently 
numerous or conclusive to decide the question.” 
