Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 096.djvu/301

 south-east wind was no longer obstructed by the coast, having a passage there through Torres' Strait?

The difference between the height of the mercury, during a north-east and a south-east wind, was much less here than before, although the weather was most unfavourable during the time of the north-east wind, and should have increased the difference in their effects. Was this owing to the general approximation to that equality which has been observed to take place in the barometer, in very low latitudes?—or that the north-east wind, still meeting with resistance from the coast, had one cause for keeping up its power, which the south-east wind had lost?

In a general summary of the winds on the east coast, those that came from between south and east caused the mercury to rise and stand highest, as they had also done upon the south-coast, with the exception of the 4th example. The winds from NE kept the mercury up above 30 inches on the east coast, and caused it to rise after all other winds except those from the south-eastward; but on the south coast, the mercury fell with them, and stood considerably below 30 inches; because, as it appears to me, they then came from off the land. During north-west winds, the mercury stood lower than at any other time upon both coasts; and on both they came from off the land.

Moderate winds from the south-westward, with fine weather, caused a descent of the mercury on the east coast; and during their continuance it was much lower than with winds from the north-eastward; but upon the south coast it rose with south-west winds, and stood much higher than when they came from the opposite quarter. For this change I cannot