A SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF THE "EAST-WIND," AND OF THE MEANS FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE VOYAGE, &c.
A scientific analysis of the cause of this perpetual Easterly Wind may be acceptable to the general reader,—it is also required by the subject matter of this volume,—for the Tyrians had no knowledge of the cause, they but experienced the effects,—and this upon two occasions,—once in opposing its power, and at another time in receiving its friendly aid. Columbus received the same during his voyage, which was accomplished entirely by this East-Wind,—it not only wafted him with continuous speed and safety, but it also subdued the fierce elements of human conflict, as threatened by the mutiny of his crew. Upon the success, he and his companions regarded the perpetual wind blowing towards the Western Continent as a Providential interposition in their behalf! Such was the superstition only four centuries and a half ago; but Columbus merely followed a track, (and also from the Canary Isles) which had been ploughed by Tyrian Galleys, eighteen centuries before; and wafted by the same ceaseless wind, he reached an island in a direct westerly line, with the land or point of "Florida" first "touched" by his Phœnician predecessors! This we believe, in the subsequent volumes, will be firmly established. But to the analysis of this Orient Gale ever blowing towards the Occident.
We will first suppose (for illustration) that the Earth should suddenly cease its diurnal revolution, and become absolutely stationary;—in that case all the currents of air (winds) would rush from every part of the Globe towards that point over which the Sun (at the moment of the Earth's fixedness) should be vertical: and the Sun producing a partial vacuum by its heat, would cause the various currents of wind to leave the Globe, and rise in the form of a cone towards the immediate source of heat, and so rush with more or less fury, according to the degrees of the vacuum produced. Now from this contemplation of the action of air, upon the Earth being stationary, simply view the Globe in its revolving condition according to its eternal law,—our diurnal hemisphere ever turning FROM West TO East,—producing the natural fact, that every spot of earth (in the same latitude) holds nearly the same locality in infinite space once in every twenty-four hours! The Sun (for this second illustration) will be viewed as stationary,—and is nearest to the earth at the line farthest and most central from the North and South poles,—i. e. at the Equator,—the currents of air as a necessity pass from East to West (the reverse of the Earth's action) following the principles of rushing towards the partial vacuum created by the Sun's intensity. As the Sun is farther from the Poles than from the line of the Equator, so the East-Wind diminishes in ratio force towards the Poles (for the cold airs are attracted from them) and increases in the same degree of ratio in approaching the line from whence the North and South latitudes are measured. The distance, as already stated, is thirty degrees on either side of the Equator, thus forming by the laws of Nature a perpetual East-Wind encircling one hemisphere (and a West-Wind the other), and spreading to the width of 3600 miles around the entire Globe!
This fact enables us to elucidate a portion of Scripture having reference to the celebrated Passage of the Red Sea by the Israelites, which will be investigated in the next volume.
The principle of nature established in its law of attracting air even towards a partial vacuum, be it created by natural or artificial means of heat (for the quality of the result is the same) has been shewn to prove, that the Earth revolving one way, (West to East) and the current of air rushing another, having the Sun as its source of attraction, must of a necessity produce the constant East-Wind. This secret of Nature instantly unfolds why the great Ocean on the Western coast of America is truly named Pacific, when compared to the tempests of the Atlantic. As thus:—the hot sands of Africa for man adjunct power to the Sun in creating an increased yet partial vacuum,—the winds, therefore, are attracted with doubled quantity on Africa,—thence the Simooms; but being compelled by Nature's law to follow (as it were) to the Sun, the quantity consequently drawn from Africa to its immediate neighbour, the Atlantic, is in the ratio of acquisition at the original source, Africa; but when on the Atlantic, the waters—not possessing the sand-heat, and thence losing the concentration—disperse the mass of storm-winds, and they pass over the Atlantic, gradually losing their force as they are removed from Africa; and in crossing over the American Continent, having no longer the hot sands to regenerate the increased vacuum, the East-Wind reaches the great Ocean truly in a Pacific state; and so continues around the Globe, until it comes within the influence of the furnace sands, when it again commences its impetuous course, and thence on to the Atlantic. The name—Pacific Ocean, was given from an absolute truth—an effect,—not from an analysis of the cause,—we humbly submit that the latter is now produced.
Upon the same principle, the burning sands of Arabia, which are unendurable during the day, owing to the excessive heat contained,—possess at night the cool and reviving air;—it does not so much pass over the desert (in the absence of the Sun) as it is actually drawn down vertically upon the sands, like an avalanche;—for the cold air of the upper region, upon feeling the effects, and attraction of the substratum of heat, must follow the established principle,—as, also, the greater weight of the cold air follows the law of gravitation.
Pursuing this reasoning upon effect from cause, (and without which we cannot advance in wisdom) the following singular result must not only be apparent, but actually would be obtained,—viz., A Cloud surcharged with rain, and at a low distance from the Earth, and on a calm day, could be compelled to restore its stolen treasure, without waiting for its own period of honesty! This could be done by artificial means, yet the living cause would be that of Nature and her laws,—viz., by heat. As thus,—if beneath that Rain-Cloud should be erected combustible matter covering a large extent; and upon being ignited the gathered heat should reach that cloud,—as a necessity, the heavier cold air within, and around, that mass of vapour, would descend towards the partial vacuum occasioned by the heat,—with more or less speed according to the intensity,—and thence discharge the accumulated particles of rain upon the flame!
In following out the above train of reasoning, another secret is unveiled,—viz., During the dreadful Conflagrations of Cities and Capitals,—of Forests or Prairies,—it is almost invariably recorded, that the light wind increased to a breeze,—from that to a gale, or hurricane, and perhaps from a friendly quarter,—or that the Rain descended in torrents, and so Providentially extinguished the fierce fury of the flaming element:—in both these cases they were indeed Providential, for they were based upon the undeviating laws of cause and effect,—of God and Nature! By thus tracing the second principle (for it has its own results) to the first, how much is Religious veneration increased, when reflecting upon The Great Cause of the entire Universe!—The effects then appear but as the sparkling atoms of His ever brilliant Glory,—and the myriad of Worlds the mere witnesses of His infinite Power!
We have digressed,—we were never yet upon a happy path, or pursuit, that we did not wish to follow it out,—for true happiness is found only in the walks of wisdom.