218 A VOYAGE TO Book VIII. 



on with such violence, tliat it was with the utmost 

 difficulty she was saved from being wrecked in that 

 bay ; and this woukl infallibly at last have been the 

 consequence had the storm continued some time lon- 

 ger; for even when the wind abated, they found it 

 hardly possible to carry her into the harbour to re- 

 pair the damages she had received. 



Other observations relating to these northerly 

 winds are, that they always blow when the Sures are 

 in their strength, in the higher latitudes, and also 

 between the parallel of 20° and that of Panama, it 

 being then winter in those climates; and are also 

 found in latitudes beyond 20° but never nearer to 

 the equinoctial. Another observation is, that during 

 the time of the Brisas, between Panama and the equi- 

 noctial, these winds are never felt in any part of the 

 Pacific Sea, the S. winds alone prevaihng there. 

 Lastly, it is observed, that within thirty or forty 

 leagues of the coast of Chili, while one part is agitated 

 with storms at N. the S. winds freshen in another. 

 This, however singular it may appear, is no more 

 than what was experienced by the three ships, Espe- 

 ranza, Eelen, and Rosa, which being at the mouth 

 of the Bay of Conception, the latter took her leave of 

 them, and bore away with a fresh gale at S. to Valpa- 

 raiso, whilst the others who steered for the islands of 

 Juan Fernandes, were overtaken in their passage by 

 a storm at N. 



As in summer theS. winds generally shift between 

 the S. S. E. and E. S. E., so in winter, they continue 

 for some tim^e between the.S. W. and S. ; consequently 

 there is a necessity, in the latter season, to standout 

 to such a great distance from the coast in quest of 

 tliem, as must be done in summer. 



CHAP. 



