252 NATURAL HISTORY 



such a strong opinion concerning the West Indies by the 

 relation of a Spanish pilot, and much less believe that he 

 might gather it out of some obscure footsteps of the ancients, 

 have this refuge ; that he might conjecture there was some 

 continent in the west by the certain and stayed winds which 

 blew from them towards the shores of Lusitania or Portugal. 

 A doubtful, and not very probable thing, seeing that the 

 voyage of winds will hardly reach so large a distance. In 

 the mean time there is great honour due to this inquisition, 

 if the finding of this new world be due to one of those 

 axioms or observations, whereof it comprehends many. 



5. Wheresoever are high and snowy mountains, from 

 thence blow stayed winds, until that time as the snow be 

 melted away. 



6. I believe also that from great pools which are full of 

 water in the winter, there blows stayed winds in those 

 seasons, when as they begin to dry up with the heat of the 

 sun. But of this I have no certainty. 



7. Wheresoever vapours are engendered in abundance, 

 and that at certain times, be sure that stayed winds will 

 blow there at the same times. 



8. If stayed and certain winds blow any where, and the 

 cause cannot be found near at hand, assure yourself that 

 those certain winds are strangers, and come from far. 



9. It hath been observed, that stayed winds do not blow 

 in the night time, but do rise about three hours after sun- 

 rising. Surely such winds are tired as it were with a long 

 journey, that they can scarcely break through the thick 

 ness of the night air, but being stirred up again by the 

 rising of the sun, they go forward by little and little. 



10. All stayed winds (unless they blow from some neigh 

 bouring places) are weak, and yield unto sudden winds. 



11. There are many stayed winds which are not perceiv 

 able, and which we do not observe, by reason of their weak 

 ness, whereby they are overthrown by the free winds. 

 Wherefore in the winter they are hardly taken notice of, 

 when the free winds wander most: but are more observ 

 able in the summer, when those wandering winds grow 

 weak. 



12. In Europe these are the chief stayed winds, north 

 winds from the solstice, and they are both forerunners and 

 followers of the dogstar. West winds from the equinoctial 

 in autumn, east winds from the spring equinoctial; as for 

 the winter solstice, there is little heed to be taken of it, by 

 reason of the varieties^ 



