6.2 miles corrected. In the second section, in consequence of the uncertainty of the lay, the resulting mean is rejected.

The mean corrected hourly rate of the whole western region, reckoning the American tracks to the northward, is 7.3 miles.

February and March.

The three

The divisions are the same as for the former epoch. regions determined are in the same relative positions, excepting that they are a little moved to the southward. (See chart.)

The western and central regions both reach the equator, and the eastern one as far as the parallel of 5° N. on the meridian of 12° W. The southern limits are 5° further South than those of August and September.

The hourly rates are found from similar tracks and from ships of the same nations, and consequently the figures undergo the same modifications; that is to say, the same coefficients are applied in similar sections, and hence results are obtained perfectly fit for comparison between the same epochs.

The strength of the wind in the eastern region is represented by the mean hourly rate of thirty-nine Portuguese ships. The strength of the wind in the gulf is considerably lessened, whilst that about the coast to the South of the equator is, on the contrary, augmented. The mean strength of it in the whole eastern region corresponds to the average rate, corrected, of 4.9 miles.

In the central region we have the same Dutch and American tracks. The average rate of 110 Dutch ships from 30° S. to the equator is 5.4 miles, or 6-8 corrected. The difference between the rates of these two sets in these two months is 0.7 miles, 0·1 mile more than that of August and September.

In the western region there are the same number of Dutch and American tracks.

The easternmost, composed of fifty-six Dutch ships and fifteen Americans, gives the average rate of 5-7 miles, or 7-1 scarcely, corrected, from the equator to 20° S.

The tracks further West of fifty-one American and twenty Dutch ships give the average rate of 5·8 or 7.2 miles corrected. It may also be observed that the western rates are inferior to the eastern only off Capes St. Roque and St. Augustine. This anomaly may be accounted for in the same manner as for the former epoch.

The strength of the wind for the whole western region is represented by the corrected average of 7·0 miles, taking into account the value of 60 miles rate of the first section of American tracks to the northward.

The difference in the strength of the wind in the whole region of the S.W. monsoon in the S.E. Trades for the two epochs, is scarcely 0.1 mile in the average corrected rates. (See plates).

By not taking the S.W. monsoon into the calculation we can compare the strength of the S.E. Trade, properly so called, for the two epochs in consideration. In the months of August and September

the average rate of the S.E. Trade, proper, is equal to 7.1 miles, corrected; while in the months of February and March it is 6.9 miles, less by 0.2 mile.

This slight difference in the strength of the S.E. Trade, although the region in which it prevails is subject to great changes from one epoch to the other, appears to be well marked.

Whatever may be the amount of confidence in the coefficients employed in this investigation, as they enter into the identical tracks of the ships of the same nation, it is certain that the relative value of the corrected rates obtained cannot be materially altered, and consequently the same may be said of the relative force of the wind.

The N.E. Trade undergoes in the two epochs considerable change of strength. The difference between the strength of it at the two epochs amounts to 0.7 mile in the wind corresponding to 5.7 corrected rate. (See comparative plates.)

With respect to the two Trades, the greatest difference between their intensities is observed at the epochs of August and September,that is when the S.E. Trade appears to attain its greatest strength, and the N.E. has its least.

Again, as to the S.E. Trade proper, this difference amounts in August and September to 1:4 miles; that is to say, the strength of the S.E. Trade surpasses that of the N.E. by an amount capable of adding 14 miles to the corrected rate of 5.7 miles.

If, at this same epoch, we compare the N.E. Trade with the S.E. Trade along with the S.W. monsoon, the difference is only 0.7 mile. (See the comparative charts.)

During the months of February and March there is an excess in the N.E. Trade over its antagonist, the S.E. with its S.W. monsoon of the gulf; but there results, on the contrary, an excess of 0.5 mile in the rate of the N.E. Trade when comparing it only with the S.E. proper.

The charts show the mean direction of the winds and their deviations, according to the Dutch, of the Meteorological Institute of Utrecht, Maury's wind charts, Admiral Cubaune's and the tracks. of the Portuguese ships in the Gulf of Guinea, and they show those regions where the wind, on an average, blows harder, or with an intensity beyond a certain number of miles an hour, corrected.

The limits of these different districts are found by constructing the curves of progress for each set of routes; on these are shown sections of rates determined (6.5, 7.0, 7.5 miles). These sections transferred to their places give the parabolic and other figures shown in the charts.

The portion of the N.E. Trade where the wind is over 6.5 miles, corrected, assumes a figure, formed in the months of August and September, showing the greatest intensity is between the meridians of 20° and 25° W.

The central lines bear figures indicating the zones where the wind blows the strongest in the whole extent of the regions under consideration. The lines inclining to the equator include several de

grees, and even change their direction from one epoch to the other. The extent of these lines is greater in the N.E. than the S.E. Trade. Comparative Tables of the Strength of the N.E. Trade during the Months of February and March with those of August and September.

Comparative Table of the Strength of the S.E. Trade and S.W. Monsoon in the Months of August and September and February and March.

JOURNAL OF CAPTAIN CRACROFT, C.B., OF H.M.S. "NIGER."-New

Zealand.

(Continued from page 577.)

There was a young moon, which shed her pale silvery light over the landscape, casting a deeper gloom over objects in shade, but the pah the goal of our ambition, with its flags, stood out in bold relief against the bright clear sky. Our road descended into a deep gully, having a thick wood on either hand. This we knew had been our enemy's lurking place all day, and it had an ugly look. Facilis descensus Averni, I thought to myself, but the die was cast, and cautioning the men to preserve the strictest silence, we descended into the ravine, the tramp, tramp of the feet being the only sounds audible. Fortunately there was no enemy near enough to hear them, or we should not have got off so easily, The ascent on the other side was very steep, and we halted once to take breath, and otherwise prepare for the assault.

Moving on again as silently as possible, the Maories were seen standing in groups in the road above, evidently unconscious of our

NO. 12.-VOL. XXXI.

4 L

proximity. About thirty yards from the pah, on the left hand side of the road, we came to a high furze hedge surrounding a house and garden; from this enclosure the enemy, who had by this time discovered us, opened fire, and two men fell, shot through the legs; three cheers were instantly given, a volley fired, and the whole party rushed at the pah, entering simultaneously with some of the natives, who evidently were not prepared for so sudden a movement. Panic stricken they retreated to their trenches, and not having time to reload, cut at the men with their tomahawks, inflicting very severe wounds on the legs. This was the expiring effort. The men discharged their muskets as fast as they could into the trenches, and the officers their revolvers, raking them fore and aft, so that it was almost impossible any one could escape alive. Amongst those who were made certain of, was a man who had deserted from the 58th regiment, a notorious scoundrel, whom the Government had been anxious to get hold of. He was shot by Wm. Clarke, a supernumerary marine, belonging to the Iris, who came to me immediately and said, "I've killed a white man, sir." I replied, "Nonsense, there are no white men here." But it turned out afterwards to be true. *

*

When all resistance had ceased, and I had time to look round, and receive Dr. Patrick's report that there were only four men wounded, I could scarcely believe our good fortune. To find myself in possession of a place, which although not completed, a few hours' delay would have rendered impracticable without the aid of artillery, and with so few casualties, seemed marvellous. But there was no time for musing upon what was at all events a reality. I had to decide, and quickly too, upon what was to be done next, for during our short halt upon the hill, while closing up for the assault, Mr. Hyde arrived almost breathless, with a message from Lieut. Col. Murray, to the effect that he was returning to the town, and recommended me to do the same; so that I knew I was totally unsupported, and if the natives who had taken to flight, although they far outnumbered us, had plucked up courage enough to come back, without speedy assistance I might have found myself caught in a trap, from which it would be exceedingly difficult to escape, without at all events serious loss. Then there was the rocket party left in the road, with the tube and all the gear exposed to the risk of being cut off; the wounded also, unable to move without assistance. To crown all, the men were by this time pretty well done up, having been without food since noon, and full five miles from the ship, which was left with only the boys to look after her, in one of the most exposed anchorages in the world.

Against these considerations, which passed rapidly in review before me, was to be weighed the chance only of assistance being sent by the Colonel commanding the forces, when he received intelligence of my success, (supposing my messenger arrived safe, which seemed more than doubtful). I therefore determined nost reluctantly, but the event proved with sound discretion, to leave the pah at once and without attempting to loot it, which would have occasioned the disorganization of my brave little band, to return to the Omata blockhouse.