31 8 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



with them from ^^"^ upwards. They are ufiially 

 nearer the fliore towards the end of winter than in 

 fummer, when beginning to loofen themfclves from the 

 land, they gradually move from it ; and not diíTolving 

 by reafon of the continuance of the coldnefs of the air, 

 they are always feen at higher latitudes than that of 60 

 degrees. The Heiflor, a regiftcr fhip in her paffage 

 from Cadiz to the South- fea was loft on one of theie 

 iflands of ice ; and many others have narrowly efcaped 

 the ]ike misfortune. 



These mEiTfS of ice and the many eddies of the 

 currents render it advil'eable to keep a good offing at 

 weathering the Cape in the return from the South-lea, 

 cfpecially as there are Tome iilands at a litile diftance 

 from the coaft, reaching to 56 degrees at leaft. Thefe 

 are at all times dangerous, both from the ditñcuky 

 of deternvining with certainty^ on account of the cur- 

 rents, the place of the ñiipj and likewife from fogs 

 which are there fo common and thick, that the whole 

 day is as it were turned to riighc, and the darknefs fuch 

 that thofe on the poop cannot fee the men on the fore- 

 caille. Thefe dangers render it therefore advifeable, 

 that the fiiip in returning 'to Europe, fhould always 

 ftand into the ladtude of 58 or 60 degrees. 



In pafiing into the Soiith-fea, a larger latitude even 

 from 60 to 63 or 64 degrees, as the wind will admit, 

 and then fleering W. 60 or 80 leagues beyond what 

 may fcem neceñary by account, will be advifeable ; 

 becaufe if the fi^ip ihould have met with currents, fuf- 

 ficient allowance would be made for them ; and con- 

 iequently the great inconvenience prevented of not wea- 

 thering the Capes which might be the cafe without the 

 allowance of thefe 60 or So leagues. This weftern dif- 

 tance, after it appears, by the reckoning that the fhip 

 has weathered the Cape, will be of little confequence, 

 if we confider t!ie great advantages gained therebyj it 

 is always better for the ihip tf> be obliged to fail 100 

 leagues eaftward, till (he makes the weftern coaft of 



Ame- 



