quite open to the east, still they are more sheltered from winds blowing from this quarter than from any other. The reason of this I have elsewhere stated to be the precipitous rise of the hill close to the houses, which, in a very decided degree, lessens or breaks the force of the current of air.[1] An easterly wind, indeed, rushes with great rapidity over the crest of the range, but it is sometimes quite, and always comparatively stilled below. I have, on various occasions, been at the summit of the hill, the wind blowing very fresh from the east, while below, in the village, the air has been quite calm; the narrow line of the hills acting precisely as a dam in a current of water would do, destroying the motion below, and allowing the stream to rush over the top.
Westerly winds are sometimes very troublesome, the current, as before stated, coming over the top of the hills with great force, descends in violent eddies and gusts. The general fact being, that close along the base of a high narrow chain of hills, strong winds are more felt on the leeward than on the windward side.[2]
- ↑ Vide The Midland and Surgical Reporter, vol. 2, p. 131.
- ↑ This is well known to most nautical persons, and I can, from experience, give one striking example. Saint Helena is a high mountainous island, lying in the south-east trade wind, and the harbour of James Town is on the leeward side of the island. Ships rounding the point to enter, and, as would seem, getting under shelter of the land, are obliged to have all ready for handing in sail, or the strong gusts and eddies coming down from the mountains would carry away some of the lighter masts, although just previously they had been exposed safely to the whole force of the unrestrained current. On the windward side, near the bottom of the mountain, the wind (but not the sea) is comparatively still.
