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. -227 Winds on the Coast of Chile. Very few words will suffice to give strangers to the coast of Chile a clear idea of the winds and weather they may expect to find there, for it is one of the least uncertain climates on the face of the globe. From the parallel of 35° S., or thereabouts, to near 25° S., the wind is southerly, or south-easterly, during nine months out of twelve ; in part of the other three there are calms, or hght variable breezes, and the remainder is really bad weather ; northerly gales and heavy rain prevailing, not only on the coast, but far across the ocean in parallel latitudes. From September to May is the fine season, during which the skies of Chile are generally clear, and, comparatively speaking, but httle rain falls. I do not, however, mean that there are not occasional exceptions to the general case : strong northers have been known (though rarely) in summer ; and two or three days of hea^y rain, with but Httle intermission, now and then disturb the equanimity of those who have made arrangements with imphcit confidence in the serenity of a summer sky. Tliese im welcome interruptions are rarer, and of less consequence, northward of 31° than they are to the south of that parallel : so nearly uniform, indeed, is the climate of Coquimbo, that the city is called ' La Serena.' In settled weather a fresh southerly wind springs up a little before noon (an hour sooner or later), and blows till about sunset, occa- sionally till midnight. This wind is sometimes quite furious in the height of summer ; so strong, indeed, that ships may be prevented from working into anchorages, especially Valparaiso Bay, although they may take every previous precaution, by sending down top- gallant yards, striking top-gallant masts, and close-reefing their sails. But the usual strength of the southerly sea-breeze (as it is called, though it blows along the land from the south) is such as a good ship would carry double-reefed top-sails to, while working to vnndward. This is also nearly the average strength of a southerly wind in the open sea, between the parallels above-mentioned, and there it is neither so strong by day, nor does it die away at night. Within sight of the land a ship finds the wind freshen and diminish,