124 Field Columbian Museum. 



at the foot of these very mountains there are Alpujarras, where the 

 temperature is delightful, neither too warm nor too cold. And what 

 happens in this respect in this province happens also in many others 

 of Spain, which it would be prolix to enumerate. 



I say that on the sea the same things can be observed, especially 

 in the proximity of the land ; and this is known much better by those 

 who frequent those waters than by the ones who travel elsewhere at 

 a greater distance. 



In Andalucia, it is taken for granted, during the summer, that 

 each day, as soon as the sun has reached a certain height, a mild and 

 soft breeze from the west, which they call "virazon," will commence 

 to blow, and last until the evening. And what this "virazon" does 

 for this region, other breezes of analogous character do for other 

 regions sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter. 



Those who frequently travel from Cadiz to Naples know well, 

 according to the season, the kind of winds they will find when pass- 

 ing along the coast of Catalonia, or when entering the Gulf of 

 Narbona. Travelers from Cadiz to Naples, if they make the trip 

 during the winter, pass generally in sight of Cape Creo in Catalonia, 

 and then through the gulf of Narbona; they will find there strong 

 winds which they will do well to obey. These winds will push them 

 to Berneria; and it is for this reason that the navigators go as near a - 

 they can to Cape Creo, so as to have as fully as possible the benefit of 

 these winds, and promptly reach the Pomegas of Marseilles, or the 

 Eres Island. From here they continue, always in sight of land, to 

 whatever place they desire. If the trip from Cadiz to Naples is to 

 be made in summer, it is made along the coast of Berneria up to 

 Sardinia, and from there it will continue in the same way as before 

 described. The men who are engaged in this navigation, and have 

 made many trips, are well acquainted with these routes, and know 

 what kind of weather they will meet, according to the season. In 

 common parlance we call these men "pilots," which means "lead- 

 ers," or "guides." But a man who is a very good guide, and knows 

 well how to go from here to Fuentorrabia may be a bad guide and 

 know nothing about the way to go from here to Lisbon. And the same 

 thing happens on the sea, there being pilots who are excellent for the 

 waters of Flanders, and others for those of the East, each one well 

 fitted for the locality to which he is accustomed. 



There is great intercourse between Spain and Flanders, and there 

 are great sailors engaged in that navigation. In Flanders, in Janu- 

 ary, all the ships are ready to go back to their own countries, as it is 

 rare that a wind from the northeast, which they must avoid, does not 

 make its appearance soon after This wind which at this season is 

 cold, and blows wildly, is often dangerous. It is due to the distance 

 of the sun and to the quality of the land at that place. Fortunately, 

 it does not blow regularly, or permanently, and allows some oppor- 

 tunity to escape it. But the navigator who trusts himself to the sea 

 under such winds does so at a great risk, and often owes his safety only 

 to being able, through some change in the direction of the wind to enter 

 some French or English port, and wait there until the weather changes 



