on the Original Population of America. 13 
cated, as it is inferred from general reasoning. Both the 
facility of reaching tropical America from the Atlantic, and 
the general credulity or ignorance on the subject, was, we 
remember, well illustrated by a fact which occurred about 
the year 1798. An American merchant, with a black boy, 
arrived in a ship’s gig, provided with water and food, and 
containing some valuable merchandize, at Paramaribo, in 
the colony of Surinam. The account he gave of himself 
was, that he came a passenger from the East Indies in a 
British ship ; and having purchased the boat in the proper 
latitude for reaching the West Indies, had embarked with 
his servant, and run before the trade-wind, intending to 
make Barbadoes ; but indifferent steering in a small boat— 
unsteadiness for taking observations—sleep, and probably 
eurrents—had, it appeared, carried him so far south as to 
make the mainland of South America. He was disbelieved, 
and detained until the truth of his narrative was fully esta- 
blished. Thus, within the trade-winds, an open boat may 
run with safety, and within a determinable time, from 
Africa to America. Indeed, it was an open boat which 
brought the first intelligence of De Gama’s safe arrival in 
India—having gone the whole distance across the Indian 
Ocean—round the Cape of Good Hope to Lisbon. Of the 
vessels of Columbus which he used to discover America, only 
one was completely decked. 
What the trade-winds effect constantly on the Atlantic, 
the monsoons produce alternately on the Pacifie,—the effect 
of which we have already mentioned; but as a further 
proof in what manner European vessels may have formerly 
wandered, and the crews, been saved in unknown lands, may 
be mentioned a Venetian ship, about the last quarter of the 
fifteenth century, bound to Bordeaux, losing its rudder after 
passing Gibraltar, and beating about during the whole 
winter, till it was wrecked on the coast of Norway, where 
the crew was ultimately saved and sent to Copenhagen. 
Had this vessel’s head been cast to the south instead of to 
the north, after she had lost her rudder, it is evident that 
her drift way would have led to the trade-winds, and thence 
the currents affecting her course, and a permanent favour- 
