The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-11-30
Communicated

The year 1877 will be remembered by those
who have had occasion to navigate the Paclae
Ocean about the Equator, more partIculahy 90
the westward, by the great disturbance Of the
Equatorial currents. The American Guano Com.
pany Islands we're almost inaccessible for about
ten months, that is Jarvis, Bakers and How.
lands Islands. From June 1877, 10 April 1878,
the current was running TO the eastward, with o
velocity OF from two 10 three aud a bali miles an
hour, with westerly gales aud great quantities. OF
rain, 80 much that the guano could not be dried.
The temperature Of this stream was Sc Fahren.
heit. This current, in its normal condition should
be between the latitude Of 4s 80 and SO north,
with the cold Equatorial stream running 70 ne
west, at n temperature OF from zee 10 70e
Fahrenheit, and extending from > 30 north latl.
tude 10 southwark OF the Equator. Without q
fixed limit, this 10 the great Antarctic current that
runs down the coast Of South America, and comes
to the equator AT the Galapagos Islands, where the
water il 80 cold that coral will not grow, aud the
strange phenomena OF Fur Seals being found nc
the Equator, they having followed the cold stream
Of water TO these Islands, aud found a bfeedInR
place. under The blazing heat Of a tropical sun.
When the Bedgle, commanded by FltEroy, was
surveying the Galapagos, the temperature Of the
water at Albemar island was found lie colder
on the south side OF the island than on The north
side. This cola hlrehn lOllowb tue Equator aud 10
the north Of IL clear across the PAmaa Ocean.
This, and the counter currents ~ the north Of Il,
has been detected 10 the south rem two 10 three
hundred miles, but al the date Of this paper the
currents have returned 10 their normal condition,
and from reliable sources Of information from the
Line islands. the greatest force WA In tbe months
OF July, August and September, 1877. when the
current gradually began 10 relax.
There has been considerable speculation 40 20
the cause Of this unnatural disturbance, aud those
who have given the subject a thought haze con-
cluded that volcanic upheavais from me bottom Of
the ocean have been the cause. Now II this has
been the cause, would those streams have returned
as gradually a. they receded away from their nat
ural limitsr ] think DOT, and that theory will have
10 be abandoned.
The writer Of this having been on and about the
with ample time 10 observe the strange freaks Of
the currents moving south Of their limits and
having had thirty years experience In navigation
about the Pacific, and observing the streams Of hot
and cold water, ascribes the sole Cause 90 plant
tary influence. the near approach Of the planet
Mars 20 the earth in June. 1877. with a high
southern declination. aud the earth passing be-
tween Jupiter and Saturn 10 August, al An south
ern declination, would exert an Influence on tnIa
globe sufficient 20 disturb all Of lis fluid elements.
From all parts Of the world come the tidinQg Of
famines, drouths and hurricane-one In particular
in this ocean that swept past Tahiti aud reached
the Pomato islands, where such a gale was never
known before. From these Occurrences the con-
clusion il arrived at that the Planet Mars, With
some influence from Jupiter and Sbturn, has been
the sole cause Of the unnatural disturbances Of the
air and water Of this globe. u IL 10 be hoped that
ONE abler person than the wdter OF ihis may in-
v~estigate the subject more fully and solve the pro.
blein. 70 the satisfaction OF the thinking men Of
the times ia which we live.