CHAPTER VI.
THE TRADE WINDS.
There are few things more curious in the history of human knowledge than the establishment of extensive errors as to matters of fact, and the perverse tenacity with which they retain their hold on the public mind.

In some cases it would almost seem that the pleasure which springs from genuine philosophical inquiry is subordinate to that which arises from the indolent process of taking things for granted.
This applies peculiarly to the phenomena of the Trade-winds, respecting which many erroneous ideas are generally entertained.

To professional men these fallacies are calculated to prove extremely mischievous; while even to persons not directly connected with the sea, the existence of error may often be injurious: and, although it is not very easy to explain these things in a popular way, I shall attempt to give a description of the facts as they really exist.
The main characteristics may easily be described.
The great belt of the earth's surface, nearly three thousand miles in width, lying between the tropics (from 23-1/2 deg.

north to 23-1/2 deg.

south latitude), is the chief region of the Trade-winds; though in some parts of the world they extend to the latitude of 28 deg.