Xlii EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



and divergent mouth, formed by Cape Horn on the one 

 fide, and the Cape of Good-Hope on the other, by which 

 it difcharges itfelf, for fix months, into the Indian Ocean, 

 as we fhall prefently fee, you will perceive in it all the 

 proportions of a fluviatic canal. As to it's declivity, in 

 taking it's departure from the Pole, to empty itfelf even ia 

 the Indian Ocean, and South-Sea, by the Cape of Good- 

 Hope, I believe it to be, as I have faid in the text, nearly 

 the fame with that of the courfe of the Amazon. 



Let us now confider the courfe of the polar efFufions, 

 produced by the a6lion of the Sun on the ices of the Poles. 

 There ilfues every year, a general Current from that which 

 is heated by the Sun : and as that great Luminary vifits 

 them alternately, it follows that there muft be two general 

 cppofite currents, which communic?,te to the Seas their 

 movement of circulation, and which are known in India 

 by the name of the eafterly and wefterly monfoons, or Win- 

 ter and Summer. 



This being laid down, let us examine the efFufions of 

 the South Pole, which is here reprefented in it's Summer. 

 The general Current, v/hich ilTues from it, divides into two 

 braiiches, the one of which fets in toward the Atlantic 

 Ocean, and penetrates even to it's northern extremity. 

 When this branch comes to force it's way between the pro- 

 minent part of Africa and America, finding itfelf ftraitened 

 on pafTing from a wider to a narrower fpace, it forms, on 

 the coaft, two counter-currents, or vortices, which proceed 

 in contrary diredtions. The one of thefe counter-currents 

 runs to the Eaft, along the coafls of Guinea, up to the 

 fourth degree South, according to the teftimony of Datfipie?: 

 The other takes it's departure from Cape St. Augufiiin, 



proceeds 



