Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2- Appendix): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

APPENDIX, 163 No. 19. Winds, "Weather, and Currents off Chiloe and the Chonos Archipelago. So much has been stated by Captain King (vol. i.) respecting the weather at Chiloe ; and also with regard to that of the Gulf of Pefias, and neighbouring coast, that I need make but few remarks. There is much less difference between the climate ; the prevailing winds, and the order in which they follow ; the tides ; and the cur- rents on the outer coast of Chiloe, and at the west entrance of Magal- haens Strait, including the intermediate coasts, than persons would suppose who judge only by their geographical positions. North- westerly winds prevail, bringing clouds and rain in abundance. South-westers succeed them, and partially clear the sky with their fury ; then the wind moderates, and hauls into the south-east quarter, where, after a short inter\'al of fine weather, it dies away. Light airs spring up from the north-east, freshening as they veer round to north, and augment the store of moisture which they always bring ; from the north they soon shift to the usual quarter, north- west, and between that point and south-west they shift and back sometimes for weeks before they take another round turn. When the wind backs (from south-west to west-north-west, &c.), bad weather and strong winds are sure to follow. On that coast wind never backs suddenly, but it shifts with the sim (with respect to that hemisphere) very suddenly, sometimes flying from north-west to south-west or south in a most violent squall. Before a shift of this kind there is almost always an opening, or hght appearance, in the clouds towards the south-west, which the Spaniards call an eye (ojo), and for that signal the seaman ought to watch carefully. As the sudden shifts are alw^ays with the sun, no man ought to be taken aback unexpectedly ; for so long as a north-wester is blowing with any strength, accompanied by rain, so long must he recollect that the wind may fly round to the south-west quarter at any minute. It never blows hard from east ; rarely with any strength from north- east ; but an occasional severe gale from south-east may be expected, especially about the middle of winter (June, July, August). In the summer southerly winds last longer and blow more frequently than they do in winter, and the reverse. The winds never go completely