March, will make a speedy passage to any part of the Pacific Ocean in east longitude. And that during all other seasons the passage is practicable by keeping northward of the equatorial current, and between the monsoon winds.

In the period of the west monsoon, northerly and north-west winds prevail to the Cape of Good Hope of New Guinea. Passing eastward of this point the westerly wind will generally be experienced fresh and steady, with a current of two, or two and a half knots, running to the eastward, and extending from the New Guinea shore to about 1° north. A ship may pass near the St. David Islands, without risk of losing this wind or current, and northward of Providence Islands. From hence any of the passages may be chosen according to discretion. That by the Eastern Dampier Strait, although, perhaps, the most direct if bound to Sydney, I should not recommend, until the islands northward of New Guinea are more correctly inserted. If St. George Channel be adopted, it may be preferable to steer along the line until in the longitude of the Admiralty Islands, then pass to the south-eastward between these and Matthias Island, thus avoiding the low islands and reefs to the southward; sail could be carried during the night without fear. Keeping along the equator there cannot be many undiscovered dangers, this track having been a good deal frequented of late years. The other route to the northward of the Salomon Islands, when bound to New Zeeland, the Feejee Islands, or, anywhere to the eastward, appears to be the best. In the case of New Zeeland, the tenth degree of south latitude should not be crossed, until reaching long. 171° or 172° east, then steer to the southward on the west side of the Feejee Islands, passing pretty near, as the easterly winds prevail far to the southward in January, February, and March; but by weathering the reefs near the south end of New Caledonia a passage may always be effected.

The westerly monsoon in the Pacific, as in the Indian Ocean, is attended with cloudy overcast weather, squalls, and heavy rains. Some of these squalls are very severe, requiring all sail to be taken in when crossing the wind; even when running, close reefs will be found enough. I have experienced several near New Ireland and New Guinea, which generally gave warning, and commenced at W.S.W., blowing furiously the first hour, and continuing in a strong gale, veering to the northwest for five or six hours.

From lat. 10° S. to the southern tropic, hurricanes are likely to be experienced from November until April, agreeing also in this respect with the Indian Ocean; and I make no doubt that one of these occasioned the loss of La Perouse, and his fellow-voyagers. These scourges of the sea are more prevalent near the New Hebrides and New Caledonia, than the Feejee Group and Friendly Islands. In fact, the liability to hurricanes appears in exact ratio to that of the south-west monsoon, or, rather to the meridians in which the westerly monsoon blows, differing in latitude; the monsoon seldom extending beyond 17° or 18° south, indeed, at times 13° south is the limit, whereas hurricanes are experienced as far as the tropic. From all that I can gather of these hurricanes of the South Pacific, having conversed with several masters who have encountered them, some of whom have had their ships dismasted. I scarcely think they are of that terrific description occasionally expe

rienced elsewhere; and am almost inclined to believe them, more often, and more severely felt near the islands, than well clear of the land, although aware of this disagreeing with the new theory; but, future facts, will be necessary to elucidate this subject.

They are still of unfrequent occurrence in the Pacific, several years

intervening without any ship encountering one. I possess no facts which would be serviceable in pointing out their track or direction of rotation. They will, without doubt, be considered to agree with other places in the same latitude, yet a few more well authenticated descriptions of these southern hurricanes would not appear to encumber the evidence of their uniformity in these particulars.

Near the Friendly Islands, (and, perhaps, elsewhere,) storms occasionally happen of extreme violence, blowing from one point, and producing similar effects to hurricanes. In November 1835, eight or ten ships, English and American, encountered one of these near Tongataboo and Eooa from S.S.E., the heavy part of which lasted about eight hours, causing more or less damage to all; one or two were dismasted. It was described by the masters whom I saw, which included most of them, as being more severe than anything they had ever seen. Ashore at Eooa, it was most violent-houses and trees blown down, and all the crops destroyed. It likewise did great damage at Tongataboo, and was also felt very severely at the Hapai Islands and Vavaoo. Here, Mr. Thomas, the missionary, was obliged to shore his house up, although it was considered by the natives that a gradual decrease in strength had been experienced in proceeding northward. Still further north the "Nassau" encountered it in 16° N., in the shape of a heavy gale. At all these places the wind was from the southward; S.S.E. by the ships; ashore they had no compasses, but it certainly was from the southward, and without shifting. I have thus endeavoured to be explicit, through au impression that more is required to be known of hurricanes and gales in localities; and, having a strong belief that many of the hurricanes, even those producing the most disastrous effects, will be found very local.

Reverting again to the north-west monsoon,-at the Salomon Archipelago it commences in December or January. In some years these months are tolerably fine. During February and March strong winds with severe squalls and heavy rains may be expected. April generally is a fine month, with variable winds; also in May there is a good deal of fine weather. The south-east monsoon sets in strongly in June, with heavy rains and squalls, and continues so until the end of August; in all these months, nevertheless, there are considerable intervals of fine weather. In September the strength of the monsoon is spent, and the weather is more moderate from this time until the return of the northwester.

Farther to the eastward, about the meridian of Rotumah, the westerly monsoon is less constant, beginning generally in January, and blowing strongly about seventeen or eighteen days consecutively; then declining; and, the easterly wind returning in a fresh breeze for nearly the same period, the westerly wind again intervenes, usually commencing with a gale, and always continuing in a strong breeze with squalls and rain; the easterly and westerly winds thus alternating until the end of March,

when the south-east trade sets in steadily. Proceeding still further to the eastward the westerly monsoon gradually becomes less constant, and finally disappears, I think, somewhere about the meridian of the Marquesas Islands.

Of currents I can only speak in very general terms, these being subject to great changes in many localities. From 1° or 2° north to about 3° south, a current of two or three knots an hour prevails, taking its course from the wind, which is easterly during the greater part of the year; current, therefore, westerly. I have, however, experienced an exception to this,-in July 1833, on the Equator, in long. 175° E., a current of about the strength already mentioned, ran to the eastward for fourteen or fifteen days, although the wind was then fresh from the eastward; and, I believe, such changes have generally occurred once a year, probably induced by a strong south-west or westerly monsoon in north latitude, reaching at this time near the line. They are fitful changes, and not to be depended on, nor can I state their extent eastward.

In other parts of this ocean, well clear of the land, there appears to be very little current. Mr. Horsburgh speaks of a drain to leeward, and this seems to express all there is. Indeed, I think, the swell may almost account for it; therefore it is obviously not such a serious matter to fall to leeward in the trades as may be imagined; almost any ship with perseverance may work to windward, the wind varying considerably, and veering at times far to the southward. For instance, in April I have worked up in a dull sailing and leewardly ship from the reefs off New Caledonia to the west side of the Feejee Group. From thence, in June, to the islands, called by the natives, Fotuna and Alloaffy, (marked in one as Alluffalli in the chart), and from thence to Wallis Island. Moderate westerly winds of two or three days' duration happen in nearly every month.

Off the islands, so far as my observation extends, the currents decrease in strength in proportion to the increase in latitude, that is, the nearer to the Equator, the stronger current, and generally with the wind. There are no doubt many exceptions, but without an account of each island, which I am unable to give, no statement can embrace all the particulars, yet one or two instances of such deviation may be mentioned. Cruising to the southward of New Georgia and Bougainville Islands, throughout the south-east monsoon from May until October, in the years 1836 and 1840, the current ran strongly to the south-east against a strong wind and heavy swell, although at the same time on the north side of these islands it was running as strongly to the westward. Off the north side of New Ireland where a westerly current prevails, changes to the eastward occur, for ten or twelve days at all

seasons.

In concluding these remarks, I may be permitted to hope that some of your readers will follow them up. The winds of the Western part of the North Pacific seem very imperfectly known. No statement has appeared of the Eastern limit of the south-west monsoon; it certainly enters this Ocean. In June I have run to the northward, keeping about 3° eastward of the Philippines with a fresh and steady breeze

from south-west. The same wind prevailed until reaching 27° north and 138° east.

Guam and the other islands of the Ladrone Group are also understood to be subject to hurricanes, for which the inhabitants prepare, by lashing down and securing their houses; yet the seasons at which these are most likely to be experienced are not generally known. Having only crossed this locality once or twice in making passages, I can merely give hearsay evidence. The present governor of Lamboangan, who has resided in Guam two years, (in the same capacity,) informs me that in June, July, and August, also in December and January they are expected. December 1832, the "Japan," a new ship, encountered a severe hurricane in 13° north and about 160° west, the meridian of some of the Sandwich Islands, in which she was totally dismasted, and fears were entertained of her weathering it. This is the farthest to the eastward in the North Pacific of which I have heard.

[The seaman who is desirous of pursuing his investigation of this subject may consult with advantage, several important papers in the preceding volumes of this work. We may instance the voyage of H.M.S. Imogene in particular, in the Volume for 1838. But a reference to the Index of each will supply the information.-ED. N.M.]

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CLIMATE OF CANTON, AND MACAO.

FOREIGNERS in their present situation in China enjoy a very limited range for making observations on the climate of this country. But there seems to be little reason to doubt, what the Chinese generally affirm, that the climate of China Proper is, with few exceptions, agreeable and salubrious. Pestilences do not frequently visit the land; and the inhabitants sometimes attain to a very great age. One individual is mentioned in the Ta-tsing hwny-teen, who died, during the reign of the present dynasty, at the age of 142 years. The Chinese pay great respect to aged men; and their government honor with titles, and with bounties the few who have the good fortune to outlive the great majority of their fellow-mortals. Those who reach the age of 100 years receive a sum of money equal to about forty-five dollars, to be expended in building an honorary "gate-way," which is embellished with an inscription dictated by the emperor. Those who attain to 110 years receive about twice forty-five dollars. Those who reach the age of 120, receive thrice that sum, &c.

The climate of the middle provinces is said to be delightful. "That of Peking is salubrious, and agrees even with strangers. Epidemic disorders are very rare, and the ravages of the plague entirely unknown. The water is frozen every year from the middle of December until March; but, sometimes for a shorter period. In the spring there are violent storms and whirlwinds. The heat is very great in summer, especially in June and July; it is usually, however, accompanied with abundant rains. The autumn is the most pleasant part of the year,particularly September, October, and November. The air is then mild, the sky serene, and the weather calm.*

* See Travels of the Russian mission to China, by Timkowski.

The province of Canton is regarded by the Chinese as one of the most unhealthy portions of their country; and such it probably is. Yet still it is a healthy climate, and may be considered superior to that of most other places which are situated in the same degree of latitnde. To enable our friends to form an opinion of the climate of Canton and Macao, we will subjoin a brief series of remarks from meteorological observations which appear in "the Anglo-chinese Kalendar." The latitude of Canton is 23° 7′ north; and that of Macao is 22° 11' 30" north.

The data on which the following remarks concerning the weather are founded, were taken from the Meteorological Diary, of the Canton Register. January. The weather, during the month of January, is dry, cold, and bracing, differing but little, if at all, from the two preceding months, November and December. The wind blows generally from the north, occasionally inclining to N.E. or N.W. Any change to the south, causes considerable variation in the temperature of the atmosphere.

February. During this month the thermometer continues low; but the dry, bracing cold of the three preceding months is changed for a damp and chilly atmosphere. The number of fine days is much diminished, and cloudy or foggy days are of more frequent recurrence in February and March than in any other months. At Macao, the fog is often so dense as to render objects invisible at a very few yards distance.

March. The weather in the month of March is also damp and foggy, but the temperature of the atmosphere becomes considerably warmer. To preserve things from damp, it is requisite to continue the use of fires and closed rooms, which the heat of the atmosphere renders very unpleasant. From this month, the thermometer increases in height, until July and August, when the heat is at its maximum.

April. The thick fogs which begin to disappear towards the close of March are, in April, seldom if ever seen. The atmosphere however, continues damp, and rainy days are not unfrequent. At the same time the thermometer gradually rises; and the nearer approach of the sun renders its heat more perceptible. In this and the following summer months, south-easterly winds generally prevail.

May. In this month summer is fully set in, and the heat particularly in Canton, is often oppressive;-the more so from the closeness of the atmosphere, the winds being usually light and variable. This is the most rainy month in the year, averaging fifteen days and a half of heavy rain; cloudy days, without rain are, however, of unfrequent occurrence; and one half of the month averages fine sunny weather.

June. June is also a very wet month, though on an average, the number of rainy days is less than in the other summer months. The thermometer in this month rises several degrees higher than in May, and falls but little at night. It is this latter circumstance chiefly, which occasions the exhaustion often felt in this country from the heat of summer.

July. This month is the hottest in the year, the thermometer averaging 88° in the shade, at noon, both at Canton and Macao. It is like