Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/95



each side of the tropic of Capricorn, which we crossed on the evening of the 19th, we experienced sharp squalls regularly between 8 and noon, and sometimes they occurred about 3  The cumulostratus clouds, of which Sir John Herschel has given so admirable a description, were in all cases the origin of these sudden gusts of wind. The cumuli, like beautiful rolls of wool, were first seen to windward, at the height of 3° 46′, resting upon an ill-defined misty-looking cloud, about one degree high. They formed an irregular arch as they rose; and driven towards us by the wind, we could see the rain falling abundantly. When it had attained 35° of altitude, the squall struck the ship, and compelled us to lower the topsails, and take in all the sails but the foresail. They generally occurred three or four times in the forenoon. During their continuance the wind always veered more to the northward, and they were always preceded by a very perceptible increase of the short sea that obtains in this part of the ocean.

A curious phenomenon was witnessed by many of the officers at 8h. 30m. this evening. It was a beautiful clear night, not a cloud to be seen in any