THE EARTH. 223 



This fluctuation of the sea from the tides, pro- 

 duces another, and more constant rotation of its 

 waters, from the east to the west, in this respect 

 following the course of the moon. This may be 

 considered as one great and general current of 

 the waters of the sea ; and although it be not 

 every-where distinguishable, it is nevertheless 

 every-where existent, except when opposed by 

 some particular current or eddy, produced by 

 partial and local causes. This tendency of the 

 sea towards the west is plainly perceivable in all 

 the great straits of the ocean ; as, for instance, 

 in those of Magellan, where the tide running in 

 from the east, rises twenty feet high, and continues 

 flowing six hours ; whereas the ebb continues but 

 two hours, and the current is directed to the 

 west. This proves that the flux is not equal to 

 the reflux ; and that from both results a motion 

 of the sea westward, which is more powerful dur- 

 ing the time of the flux than the reflux. 



But this motion westward has been sensibly ob- 

 served by navigators, in their passage back from 

 India to Madagascar, and so on to Africa. In 

 the great Pacific Ocean also it is very perceiva- 

 ble ; but the places where it is most obvious are, 

 as was said, in those straits which join one ocean 

 to another. In the straits between the Maldivia 

 islands, in the Gulf of Mexico, between Cuba.and 

 Jucatan. In the straits of the Gulf of Paria the 

 motion is so violent, that it hath received the 

 appellation of the Dragon's Mouth. Northward 

 in the Sea of Canada, in Waigat's Straits, in the 

 straits of Java, and, in short, in every strait where 



