^h2 A VOYAGE TO Bqok VIII. 



course is to the nortluvarcls : but, from between the 

 parallels of sixteenand twenty degrees, their course is 

 imperceptible; while in higher latitudes they run 

 with some force S. and S. W. and with a greater 

 velocity in winter than in summer; as I know from 

 my own experience, having in my second voyage to 

 Chili, in the year 1744, at the end of October, and 

 beginning of November, taken the greatest care, that 

 the distances between the knots on the log line should 

 be 47 Paris feet and a half, for measuring the ship's 

 way ; but every day found that the observed latitude 

 exceeded the latitude by account ten or fifteen mi- 

 nutes. The same observation was made by Don George 

 Juan, in both his voyages: as well as by the captain, - 

 and officers of the French ship, in which I returned : 

 so that the reality of the course of the sea is proved 

 beyond exception ; and in this manner it continues 

 to the 38th or 40th degree of latitude. 



In the latitude of 34° 30' and 4° 10' W. of Callao, 

 you meet with a track of green water, extending 

 N. and S. and along whicli you sail above thirty 

 leagues. Probably it runs to a great distance in that 

 sea, being found in every latitude to the coast of 

 Í Guatemala; but not always untler the same meridian, 

 winding away N. W. It is also met with in a 

 higher latitude than that of Juan Feri>andes ; and it 

 has also been observed by ships in their course to 

 Chiloe, or Ealdivia. 



In this passage, tho* part of it be at such a great 

 distance from the land, we meet with a kind of birds 

 called Pardelas, which distinguish themselves from all 

 other species, by venturing so far from the land. 

 They are something larger than a pigeon; their bodies 

 long; their necks short ; their tails of a proper pro- 

 portion, and their wings long and slender. There are 

 two sorts of these birds, and of different colours, one 

 parda or brown, from whence they derive their name ; 

 the other black, and called pardela gallinera, but in 



other 



