The ocean / By P. H. Gosse.

  • Gosse, Philip Henry, 1810-1888.
Date:
[pref. 1845]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ocean / By P. H. Gosse. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    363/388 (page 339)
    wind in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, by which the north-east trade wind is exchanged for one directly opposite, commonly called the setting in of the south-west monsoon, is attended with very remarkable effects on the weather. It is the com- mencement of the rainy season, which is ushered in by storms of thunder, lightning, and rain, of such violence, as those acquainted only with a temperate climate have no conception of. Mr. Elphinstone thus describes the scene on the coast of India: “ The ap- proach of the monsoon is announced by vast masses of clouds that rise from the Indian Ocean, and ad- vance towards the north-east, gathering and thick- ening as they approach the land. After some threat- ening days, the sky assumes a troubled appearance in the evenings, and the monsoon in general sets in during the night. It is attended by such a thunder- storm as can hardly be imagined by those who have only seen that phenomenon in a temperate climate. It generally begins with violent blasts of wind, which are succeeded by floods of rain. For some hours lightning is seen almost without intermission; some- times it only illumines the sky, and shows the clouds near the horizon; at other times is discovers the distant hills, and again leaves all in darkness; when, in an instant, it reappears in vivid and successive flashes, and exhibits the nearest objects in the bright- ness of day. During all this time the distant thun- der never ceases to roll, and is only silenced by some nearer peal, which bursts on the ear with such a sudden and tremendous crash as can scarcely fail to strike the most insensible heart with awe. At length