In summer pamperos are but of short duration, but in winter they sometimes last long; occasionally they pass round to the S.E. and then render the coasts obscure. During the nights it does not blow so strongly. These pamperos cleanse the atmosphere, as the N.W. winds in the meridian of Spain, and generally there is a clear sky while they last.

«Turbonada» or Squalls.

Such is the summer pampero called, and at times it bursts with terrific violence, though, happily, but of short duration. If a ship is under sail when indications of such a squall is seen, it may be prudent not only to have the smallest possible canvas on, but also to dip the upper yards, without a moment's delay. «In 1828,» says Captain Fitzroy, «we came very near to be dismasted and capsized during a pampero, although the sails were all lowered or close-rcefed: it is therefore wise to take immediate precautions when the indications appear. It may be that such a squall as we then experienced may not again be felt for thirty years. Twenty pamperos out of thirty are not dangerous, and some are only ordinary storms of short duration, and whose advent need not be feared. Years may pass without any very terrible pamperos occurring. From 1828 to 1833 there were none of very great violence, but in the latter year we had three of very great force.»> Nearly always when a pampero is about to cease, the wind subsides or veers to the southward. Sometimes these storms extend out to sea, even beyond the latitude of Santa Catalina. If they come with clear weather, they last longer than when the sky is overcast. But in the Plate, and outside its cutrance, the winds are very variable.

The Summer Season.

During the fine season, which is from September to March, N.E. winds are prevalent; the atmosphere is hazy, and the sky covered with clouds of undefinable formations. As the river is approached, the winds will be found to go round to the E., and at times blowing fresh from the S.E., with rain and dark weather. Inside the estuary, in good weather, the wind generally will be found to pass round the compass in twenty-four hours. A gallant-sail breeze blows from the S.E. iu the evening, replaced by a similar one from the N.E. at night, followed next day by a light wind from the westward or a calm, gradually going round to the S.

«Virazon, or Sea Breeze.

This is the name for the breeze which has just been mentioned. When it is not prevalent, or baffled by winds from N. and N.W. a «turbonada»

from the S.W., more or less strong, must be expected before the sea breezes are settled. If it is hazy from sunrise until eight or nine o'clock in the morning, the «virazon» is pretty sure to follow. When the weather is settled, the wind in the morning is generally N. or N.N.W., moderate breeze, until ten or eleven o'clock in the morning. Then commences a fresh breeze from outside, from E.S.E. to E.N.E., gradually lessening after sunset, until near midnight, when it generally becomes a calm. From midnight outil dawn it goes round again to N. and N.E., and again traverses the same course during the day. Thus, in general, land breezes are prevalent at nights, and sca breezes during the day, until the equilibrium of the atmosphere is upset. The Spanish pilot, Don Claudio Vila, thus describes the weather of the River Plate :-«Good weather generally lasts fifteen or twenty days. In the mornings northerly winds blow strong and warm, increasing with the day, and at noon the sky is overcast and hazy. Soon after, a squall appears forming in the fourth quarter, with another in the S., both sending forth vivid lightning. Ordinarily the changes extend over two days, during which more or less rain falls, the atmosphere is charged, and heavy black clouds are driven to and fro by the available winds prevailing. After this and a heavy thunderstorm, the sky is clear as a bell all over the third quarter, when a pampero begins to blow, but which only lasts for the day, the wind passing rapidly to the second quarter with serene weather.» Sometimes during ordinary weather, instead of a clouded sky, there is rain and fresh winds; but it is not easy to foretell from whence the clouds or wind will come. If from the N., bad weather is likely to follow; and if the wind does not go round to the south, crea when it looks clear, the good weather will not then be of much long.r duration. The more overcast becomes the sky, and the more it rains and blows from the N., the stronger it must blow from the S. to clear the heavens. During the warm months of summer, when it does not rain much to refresh the earth and atmosphere, the northerly wind is suffocating for man and animal, and the inhabitants attribute bancful influences to it. While it lasts the barometer is low, and continues to fall as it freshens, which may be for three days; the atmosphere is charged with electricity, and it ends nearly always with a gale, when the wind veers to S. W., and the equilibrium is renewed. Near the full and new moon there is generally a breeze from the S.E., with some rain; at other times the wind continues from the N., but not so strong as that from the S.E., and with a higher temperature. The pilots of the Plate say that S.E. winds will prevail if the declination of the moon is southward, and N. winds if the dip of the moon be northward; in the latter case, N. winds will nearly always go round to

N.E. if it be dry weather, but if there be rain or dew, then it is inclined to be N.W. At times it freshens up strong, accompanied with squalls, and runs round to S.W., clear weather: this wind brings a high sea, followed soon by a calm.

The Summer Season in Buenos Ayres.

According to the observations of M. Thoyon, of the French navy, the winds are lightest in these parts from December to March, as also more regular than during the other mouths of the year. It is usual for the breeze to pass in the evening to the N.E., N., and even N.N.W., blowing strong from the latter point in the morning, but eventually running to N. or N.N.E., and subsiding into a calm about eleven o'clock; in the afternoon it revives from the E. or E.S.E., until dark, when it returns again to N. The pamperos, or S.W. winds, arc very rare during these times. In summer, as in winter, N.W. winds are warm, rainy, and disagreeable; whilst the S. winds, after their first stormy advent bring bracing weather and a clear atmosphere. Easterly winds are cold and wet, except the sea breezes in summer. Westerly winds give dry days and agreeable weather. Summer is the worst time to be in the roads of Buenos Ayres, because the S.B. winds are generally fresh during the day, and cause an awkward sea, rendering harbor work and communication with the shore ratber difficult.

Winter Season.

The prevalent winds at the mouth of the Plate from March to September are W. and S.W., but inside they are generally from the fourth quarter. At this season, when the weather is very good, the wind goes round with the sun as in summer; but this only happens perhaps once in a fortnight. In general the wind is from S. to E. or from N. to W., blowing more or less strong successively from these quarters. N. winds bring rain, thunder, and lightning, S. winds hail, and those from the E. heavy rains. If the wind follows round with the sun, the weather is settled; but if it shifts inversely, then bad weather and strong winds may be expected. Pilot Vila says:«In winter, if the wind comes from N.E., increasing, and remaining fixed

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for one or two days, with thick weather, it is dangerous then to navigate the river without experience, especially as the islands and coasts at the entrance cannot be made out, whilst the current is setting in strong. After venting its strength from the second quarter, the wind passes to the first, without ceasing to rain; it remains there for a day or two, settling in the N. on the fourth. At the time when it enters this quarter there will appear a black horizon from the S.E. to W.N.W., then a clear space appears, and a strong pampero will begin to blow on the instant, clearing the sky before it. This wind continues from S.W. to W.S.W. for five or six days, clear weather and light clouds, and at the same time the current from the river begins to set out strongly. The pampero will be followed by winds from the second quarter, which bring on rain again; before long it shifts to the first quarter, and then to the fourth, to be followed again by a furious pampero, but which will not last long, and brings settled weather.» Although S. winds are more frequent and of longer duration in winter than in summer, and though N. winds generally prevail in summer, yet, at times, they occur from the opposite directions. During winter, S. winds are persistent storms, whilst in summer they are shorter, though often strong and violent.

Winter Season in Buenos Ayres.

In these roads winter is preferable to summer, because the common winds are S.W. to N.W., which leaves a smooth river and easy communication. M. Thoyon made the following observations on this season:- The pamperos are most frequent from June to October, otherwise there are fresh and variable breezes, with many days of calm, rain intervening between these changes. A strong breeze from the E. is almost sure to be followed by a stronger one from the W., and vice versa, whilst the weather will not settle until the wind remaius in either N. or S., according to where it commenced. Thus, a breeze that springs from the W. passes to S.E., freshening up when it reaches E. or N. E., will leap to the N.W. with a squall, returning again to W.; but the weather will not be good until the breeze springs up again from N.» It may be remarked as traditional among the inhabitants of the Plate, that about Santa Rosa's holiday, which is at the latter end of August, there is always a storm: the hurricane of that period in 1860 was terrific, and twenty vessels were lost in the roads of Buenos Ayres and Montevideo.

During autumn and winter, more especially at the mouth of the river and on the Ortiz Bank. fogs are of frequent occurrence. Don Miguel Lobo, of the Spanish navy, thus speaks of them: «If at new moon, during autumn, the weather is hazy, with light S.E. winds, it is likely to last so for the whole month, thickening as the moon wanes, but disappearing for a short time at nine or ten o'clock in the morning. Sometimes at sunrise the fog seems gathered in the first and second quarter, but it spreads rapidly over the horizon, enveloping everything in more density than usual, and is later in clearing up. At these times fine weather is enjoyed; and, if, during the fog, it is a little humid, when that clears up, no better weather could be wished; about mid-day a light sea breeze sets in, going round to the N. later This most agreeable weather in the windy climate of the Plate is interrupted occasionally by a strong S.E. gale, which lasts a few hours only, and is shown by a slight fall in the barometer, which, it should be remarked, stands high when the fogs are most dense and frequent. After this weather generally follows S.W. winds, commencing in the W., the barometer beginning its fall twenty-four or thirty hours before the change occurs.» Inside the river fogs are not so general, as in Buenos Ayres they appear seldom but for a few hours.

on.

Rains.

These are very irregular in the Plate, but are more so in autumn and spring than during the rest of the year; but when it does rain, more water falls than in many parts of Europe. It is remarked also to be more plentiful during day than night, which is the reverse of the other hemisphere. The dews are also very heavy in these regions, equal indeed to a light rain in some parts of the world. It is not less surprising the dampness which prevails at times in the Plate, being such in Buenos Ayres that it affects metals and furniture, and rooms fronting to the south have damp floors aud walls. According to Señor Azara, it is a sign of rain when a bauk of clouds rise on the western horizon about sunset. Heaviness in the head when northerly wind prevails, also indicates rain, and fightning appearing in the S.W. In the city of Buenos Ayres it is a sure sign of rain if the north coast of the river is visible.