Hittorieofthefndies. lib. 3. 



partofgreateft circumference, thenintheleflc, and 

 that the greater circumference ends at one inftant with 

 thelefler. Fromthefe two grounds proceedes the rea- 

 fon, where fuch as faile great gulphs from eaft to weft, 

 doe alwaycs finde the winde in their powpc,going in a 

 fmall altitude , and the neerer they come to the Equi- 

 nO(5liall , the more certaine and durable the winde is. 

 And contrariwife,failing from weft to eaft, they always 

 findethe winde contrary ; for that the fwift motion of 

 the Equinodtiall drawcs after it the element of the aire, 

 as it doth the furplus of the higher fpheares. So as the 

 aire dooth alwayes follow the motion of the day . Go 

 ing from eaft to wcaft,without any alteration, and the 

 motion of the aire being fwift, draweth after it all the 

 vapours and exhalations which rife from the fea, which 

 caufeth in thofe Regions a continuall eafterly winde, 

 which runnes from the Levant. Father^f/^/S S Miches 

 a religious man , and of our company , who hath tra 

 velled the eaft and weft Indies, as a man ingenious,and 

 of experience,faid 5 that failing vnder the Line, or neere 

 vntb it, with a continued and durable feafon, it feemeci 

 to him to be the fame aire, moovedbythe heaven the 

 which guided the {hips, and was not properly a winde 

 nor exhalation ,but an aire moved with the daily couife 

 of the funne : for proofe whereof he fliewed , that the 

 feafon is alwayes equall 5 and alike at the gulph of Da- 

 nees : and in other great gulphes where wee faile vnder 

 the burning Zone, by reafon whereof their failes arc ai, 

 ways of one fafhion, without any bluftring, having no 

 neede, in a manner, to change them in all their courfe. 

 And if the ayrewere not moovedbythe heavens, it 

 might fometimes faile , fometimes change to the con* 

 trary, and fometimes there would grow fome ftormes. % 



Although 



