E.N.E. and North, where they cease, and are attended by heavy rain. In the middle of February, and in March and April, the period when the N.E. monsoon weakens, land and sea breezes prevail on these two coasts; they are moderate, blowing from East to N.W. chiefly in February. On the coast of Tanasserim, nevertheless, the wind is oftener from the southward than the northward. In these three months calms are common on these coasts, but of short duration.

The S.W. monsoon, on the coast of Martaban and Tanasserim is a strong wind and sometimes even violent. During the months of May, June, and July, the wind varies very little, its direction being from West to W.S.W. The monsoon is in full force from August to the middle of September, when it decreases, becomes variable, and is interrupted by calms and light breezes.

In the beginning of October, the month when the S.W. monsoon ends, the land and sea breezes again prevail on these coasts, a condition common to almost all the coasts of India in the intervals between the monsoons. These breezes are not so strong as those which follow the end of the N.E. monsoon.

Strait of Malacca.-In the Strait of Malacca, although it is within the limits of the monsoons, the wind is very variable; but land and sea breezes are found regular on the West coast of Malacca, as well as on the N.E. of Sumatra; and in the strait the monsoons are only regular when they are at their height, in the surrounding seas. Even then, however, the wind is moderate in the channel and only lasts during a part of the day. The N.E. monsoon brings the fine weather, and this season lasts from November to May. That from S.W. generally begins towards the end of April or beginning of May and ceases in October. In November, however, westerly winds are still found, and during this monsoon the weather is generally cloudy and stormy, with rain, especially when it is at its height.

In October and November the wind often changes from N.W. to West; sometimes, however, when from N.E., it blows regularly, in November. It is tolerably strong till the month of March, especially in December and January, sometimes varying to North and N.W.; and during the N.E. monsoon, in every month, one or two days of westerly winds occur. During the N.E. monsoon the wind generally varies between N.N.E. and E.N.E. Towards the end of February, in March, and sometimes early in April, the N.E. wind will veer northwards, becoming light and variable. We then find alternate breezes, iuterrupted by calms about noon, while through the night, and at sunrise, the wind is fresh. The coast of Malacca is less subject to calms in this monsoon than that of Sumatra.

The S.W. monsoon is at its height in June and July. From May to September the winds in the strait are chiefly from S.W. to South, -that is at the period when, out at sea, the monsoon is at its greatest height. In the course of this monsoon calms are found on the N.E. coast of Sumatra, but by no means so frequently nor so long as on the promontory of Malacca. The middle of the day is generally calm,

and a fresh breeze is blowing at night until sunrise. It is only in the northern part of the Strait of Malacca that the monsoon is ever well established.

During the S.W. monsoon, in the vicinity of Mount Parcelar and Cape Rechado the S.E. wind will incline to S.S.E., and about the middle of the night the "Sumatras" will come on from S.W. to South -a fresh breeze from the coast of this island. They are strong winds descending from the mountainous parts of that island, attended by rain and thunder; they generally set in heavily and last for two or three hours. Though the Sumatra is met with in all parts of the strait it is mostly found near the coast of Pedir and between the mountains of Parcelar and the islands of Carimon. Here they commence in a heavy squall and last from six to eight hours, blowing very hard in successive squalls with intervals of moderate breezes between. In Malacca Roads, where these storms occur between seven o'clock and midnight, great precaution is necessary.

Storms from N.W. are not so frequent as the Sumatras. They are most common in the northern part of the strait, but are sometimes met with near the Carimon Isles and in the Strait of Singapore. They commence with a sudden violent gust, which soon slackens, and are announced by a black arched cloud rising rapidly, scarcely giving time to reduce sail, and, like the Sumatras, are accompanied by rain and storm. A vessel, bound to the southward, waiting the tide at anchor in this part of the strait, and observing indications of a storm from N.W., should lose no time in getting under way before it comes, in order to take advantage of it and run with it while it lasts, more especially as, if she has it at anchor, she would find it more difficult then to do so, and would thereby lose a favourable opportunity of proceeding down the strait.

On the West coast of Sumatra, which is divided into two almost equal parts by the equator, we find at the same time different monsoons, according as we are North or South of that great circle. Thus, from October to April, while the N.E. monsoon prevails, on the part of that coast which lies North of that line, the N.W. monsoon (which in the South hemisphere also prevails from October to April) is blowing on that part of the West coast situated South of it; and. again, while the S.W. monsoon (from April to October) is established on the N.W. coast of the island, the S.E. monsoon (from April to October), which is only a continuation of the trade winds of the southern hemisphere, prevails on the S.W. coast. This latter mousoon is always free from storms which are only met with along this coast during the N.W. monsoon. During this latter, which is generally more violent than the S.E. monsoon, heavy winds, with rain, are met with; while from May to September the weather is always fine on the S. W. coast of Sumatra.

West Coast of Sumatra, North of the Equator.-On the West coast of Sumatra, North of the Equator, the S. W. monsoon sets in without difficulty. The wind is strong from April to November.

Towards the end of August it veers to South till the middle of September, varying to S.S.W. near the coast, while at sea it is from W.S.W. to S.W. Near Pulo-Way it is from S.S. W. to South about the middle of September. During the S.W. monsoon the weather is uncertain to the North of Sumatra.

These observations on the winds apply especially to Achem, for when the S. W. winds, which blow in the Gulf of Bengal, reach the N.W. part of Sumatra, they seem to be checked by the high lands of this island, and to take a direction along the coast from N.W. to S.E. They bring rain and bad weather; and are, besides, only well established when the S.W. monsoon is in all its force, namely, in June, July,and August. At Achem the rainy season is that of hot weather. It begins in April, and ends in August.

The N.E. monsoon, which, on the N.W. coast, follows the S. W. monsoon, brings fine weather, and the wind is less violent than in the preceding monsoon. The N.E. wind, which is very fresh on the Eastern coast of the island, is interrupted by the high lands, and is only felt out at sea, at a tolerable distance from the N.W. coast of Sumatra, about thirty or forty leagues North of it, or even sixty or eighty leagues, as we approach it from the equator. Sometimes a S.E. wind is found instead.

In December and January alternate land and sea breezes prevail along the coast as far as the equator, and even as far as Bencoolen. The N.E. monsoon is sometimes interrupted, but very seldom, by N.W. winds.

West Coast of Sumatra, South of the Equator.-On the S.W. coast of Sumatra, in the course of the S.E. monsoon, the wind varies from S.S.E. to S.S.W.; sometimes in May, June, and July, it is interrupted by a return of N.W. winds, lasting several days, especially at the time of the syzygies. This also takes place in the strait of Sunda and on Java.

About the equator, in this monsoon, the winds are very variable, and continue so nearly all the year, with occasional calms, but very seldom squalls, especially near Pulo-Mintao and Priaman. In this last part storms frequently come from the mountains at night.

The N.W. monsoon on this coast begins in November and ends in March, reaching each place on the coast gradually later, according as it is more distant from the equator. From October to April it blows fresh, varying from N.W. to W.N.W., and reaching as far as the strait of Sunda. It is sometimes interrupted by South and S.E. winds, and by squalls accompanied with rain.

In April, May, October, and November, the periods of the change of monsoon, the wind is very unsettled. Towards the end of each monsoon alternate land and sea breezes take place; and it may be observed that the land breeze does not frequently blow in the opposite direction to that from sea.

Where the coast lies North and South, the sea breeze is from N.W. and the land breeze from N.E. Where the coast lies N.W. and S.E.

When

the sea breeze is from South and the land breeze from East. the wind veers from East to North, the sea breeze may be expected on the following day to occur from West to N.W.

The land breeze does not reach beyond three or four leagues out at sea; it first begins near the coast, while we find a calm at four, six, or eight miles to sea; it then gradually extends further seaward as the heat of a place is more considerable, and attains its greatest distance from the coast in the course of an hour. At the change of monsoon the sea breeze is generally followed by a land breeze; but these breezes at the end of the S. E. monsoon are not so strong nor yet so regular as the others.

(To be continued.)

NOTES ON A VOYAGE FROM ENGLAND TO BALACLAVA in the "Gilbert Munro," late Store-ship at Hyder Pacha,-By C. R. Maclean, Master.

(Continued from page 594.)

January 18th. The wind at S. W., weather wet, raw, and disagreeable. Cleared decks and got ready for discharging. I was this day furnished with a printed form, entitled, "Daily Report," and instructions to leave it every evening, when filled up, on board the Camperdown Transport Office. Fifteen fathoms of chain, recovered by the boats of H.M.S. Leander, were returned to me, being a portion of that which we had slipped when coming into harbour. Also delivered a few bales of felt.

19th. The wind to day from the W.N.W., weather cold but dry and bracing, and a very agreeable change from the raw chilly dampness of the last two days. Having received no further instructions for the delivery of cargo, I resolved to take the opportunity to visit Sebastopol; and by the great kindness of Capt. Jones and Mr. Reeves of the L.T.C., I was furnished with a couple of horses; and at 8h. a.m., accompanied by Mrs. M. and the Captain of the Clara, we started for what is here called in military parlance "the front." The latter not being provided with a horse, it was agreed between us to make the journey spell about, that is, we should ride turn about, the distance from Balaclava to Sebastopol being only about eight miles, would be but four miles on foot for each, and this we expected would be easily accomplished. But we afterwards found out our mistake, and that it was no joke to travel over eight miles on such a road as that before us. The best of pedestrians would no doubt have found it trying enough, but for us sailors it was too much, and it required all our physical energies to get through the length and breadth of the dreary expanse of tenacious mud. Indeed we were astonished after

NO. 12.-VOL. XXV.

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wards to see what ardour and perseverance could accomplish, when forced on by curiosity..

Our first halting place was the town or village of Kadikoi, facetiously yclept Donnybrook Fair. Never having seen Donnybrook Fair I am unable to draw a comparison; but I am somewhat of opinion that Kadikoi presented a picture standing alone, unequalled, beyond all comparison. As I had occasion to see a gentleman resident in this establishment on a small matter of business, from a sharp turn to the left off the main road, a few steps took us in to the principal and only street of Kadikoi, that might then have been most commodiously navigated in a flat-bottomed boat. However, this convenience not being at hand, the pedestrian had to wade it knee deep, and occasionally something more, through a tenacious compound of clay and water, with something like a dash of glue to make it stick well. Wading through this as best we could, the quarters of the gentleman in request were found, and fortunately the gentleman himself at home, if indeed a ricketty residence such as his could be honoured by that sacred name. This domicile was of a very primitive order; and as the town of Kadikoi was made up of similar tenements, a description of this will afford the reader a general idea of the whole.

My friend's residence was more like a square box than anything else, for it really resembled somewhat a gigantic hat-box, with a pitch to the top, roughly boarded at the sides, and roofed over with oilcloth, stretched over a long pole, and nailed to the sides. The interior arrangement comprised what in Scotland is called a "butt and ben," two rooms, front and back, the partition being most conveniently ef fected by a mat suspended from the roof, that not only saved a door for entrance, but by being triced up threw both apartments into one. A variety in size of similar boxes, fitted according to the taste of the occupier, besides a few long sheds and barn looking structures, and a few "frowning" castles, composed the celebrated town of Kadikoi.

But it was the novelty presented by its motley inhabitants that rendered it the more strikingly and singularly interesting to a stranger. Every nation on the face of the earth seemed to be here represented. It was easy to imagine that the whole human race had set out on a great pilgrimage, and had assembled at the shrine of their devotions. Everything with a roof over it, habitable or not, appeared to be a shop, and had something to offer for sale, where the confusion of noises made by each vendor touting his merchandise in his own "mother tongue," and in his own peculiar way, was sufficient to strike any linguist with despair! To us it was literally stunning and bewildering to the senses.

Here, too, the different dispositions and peculiarities that mark national character, were singularly conspicuous in the motley throng. The pale, slender, joyous Frenchman, his military cap jauntily stuck on one side, whistling or chaunting his "chanson," apparently happy amidst the mire and din, as if Kadikoi were a fair in his own 66 belle France." The swarthy Oriental and grave Turk, demure and sedate, contemplating the din and confusion of activity around him with a philoso