Ch. III. SOUTH AMERICA. 213 



other circumstances they are entirely the same. A 

 smaller bird is also seen in these seas, called Alma de 

 Maestre; it is white spotted with black, and has a 

 long tail ; but is not so common as the Fárdelas : 

 They arc most frequent in stormy weather. Within 

 ten leagues of the islands of Juan Fernandes, arc 

 seen some balenatos, or small Avhales ; and at near 

 the same distance, sea- wolves; but the latter seldom 

 go far from the shore. 



Though this sea has not been improperl}' dignified 

 with the appellation of Pacific, with regard to the 

 interval between the tropics; yet that particular can- 

 not with any justice be applied to it, if considered in 

 its whole extent : tempestuous weather being equally 

 common in the latitudes of twenty and twenty-three 

 degrees in the south-sea, as in the oceans of Europe ; 

 and in higher latitudes storms are more frequent and 

 violent. I am inclined to think that the first Spa- 

 niards gave it the name of theFacific Sea, from their 

 being greatly pleased with its smoothness, and the 

 gentleness of the winds in their first voyages; conclu- 

 ding that it was so in every part ; but the fury of the 

 winter storms, and the roughness of the sea, which 

 are equal to those in any other parts, abundantly de- 

 monstrate, that they formed ajudgement too hastily. 



Along these coasts and the adjacent sea, the win- 

 ter begins at the same time as at Lima ; that is, in the 

 month of June, lasting till October and November; 

 but its greatest violence is past in August or Sep- 

 tember. During the whole winter season, there is no 

 dependence on being safe from storms, which rise 

 with a sudden rapidity; and in all latitudes beyond 

 forty degrees, the winter sets in considerably sooner, 

 even at the beginning of April, and is also observed 

 to last longer. 



The winter in all latitudes beyond 20*^ is ushered 



in by northerly winds. They are not indeed fixed like 



those of the S. though common to the season. They 



P 3 always 



