l88 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



which have been made in Europe, and perhaps 

 the only one : it is that of Chrijiopher Columbus ^ 

 fetting out on the difcovery of the New World. 



He fet fail from the Canaries about the begin- 

 ning of September, and fleered to the Weft. He 

 found, during the firft days of his voyage, that 

 the currents carried him to the North-Eaft. When 

 he had advanced two or three hundred leagues 

 from land, he perceived that their direction was 

 fouthward. This greatly terrified his companions, 

 who believed that the Sea was there driving to a 

 precipice. Finally, as he approached the Lucayo 

 lilands, he again found the currents fetting in 

 northward. The journal of this important voyage 

 may be found in Herrera, 



My opinion is, that this general Current, which 

 flows from our Pole, in Summer, with fo much 

 rapidity, and which is fo violent toward it'sfource, 

 according to the experience of E/Iis and Linjchot- 

 ten J crofles the equinoftial Line, in as much as 

 it's flux is not ftemmed by the effufions of the 

 South Pole, which, at that feafon are confolidated 

 into ice. I prefui^e, for the fame leafon, that it 

 extends beyond trié -Cape of Good Hope, from 

 whence it is direfted toward the torrid Zone, to 

 vi'hich it is attracted by the diminution of the wa- 

 ters, which the Sun is there inceflantly pumping 



up ; 



