Ch. i. south AMERICA. 13 



tornadoes or fqualls proceed, I cannot pofitively af- 

 firm ; but this is certain, that when they are over, 

 the wind begins to blow from the fame point as 

 before, aüd nearly with the fame force. And here it 

 may be of ufe to obfcrve, that, on any appearance of 

 thefe fqualls in the atmofphere, the utmoll expedition 

 muft be ufed in getting the ihip in readinefs, their 

 impetuofíty being fo fudden as to admit of no time 

 for preparatives ; and therefore the leaft negligence 

 may be attended with the moil fatal confequences. 



In the voyage from Cadiz to the Canaries, in fome 

 parts, though the winds are othcrwile moderate, the 

 fea is agitated by thofe from the N. and N. W. fome- 

 times in large and long waves ; fomctimes in Imall but 

 more frequent ones, which happens when the wind 

 blows fírongly along the coaft of France and Spain ; 

 for in the ocean the winds are fomild, that the motion 

 of the fhip is hardly perceived, which renders the 

 paiTage extremely quiet and agreeable. Within the 

 windward iflands, and even before we reach them, in 

 the parts where thefc terrible fqualls prevail, the fea is 

 agitated in proportion to their violence and duration ; 

 but no fooner is the wind abated, than the water be- 

 comes again clear and fmooth. 



The atmofphere of the ocean anfwers to the calm- 

 nefs of the winds and fea, fo that it is very feldom an 

 obfervation cannot be taken, either from the fun's 

 being obfcured, or the hazincfs of the horizon. This 

 is to be underfíood of the fair I'eafon ; for otherwife 

 here are dark days, when the air is filled with vapours, 

 and the horizon very hazy. At all times it is feen 

 filled with white and towering clouds, embellifhing 

 the llcy with a variety of figures and ramifications, 

 which amufe the eye, tired with being fo long con- 

 fined to two fuch fimilar objeóls as the fea and Iky. 

 Within the windward iflands the variety is it ill 

 greater, the quantity of vapours profufely exhaled, fill- 

 ing it in fuch a manner, that fometimes nothing but 



cloud? 



