BOOK IIT. CHAP. VIT. 669 



proachlng fo near as about fifty leagues, neceirarily contract: the pafllige, 

 and occalion a v^ery fwift current to the Weftward through this ftrait. 

 It is accorduic ly obfcrvcd, that a prodigious current fets, with a conftant 

 ftrong rtrv^^am to the Weft ward, upon all the Southern parts of the Mex- 

 ican Bay, fo far as the Strand of Vera Cruz ; and, being then dcfleded by 

 the curved fhape of the land, veers round to the Eaftward along the op- 

 poilte fhore, endeavouring to pafs out again where it meets with leaft re- 

 liftance ; and making its progrefs by the W. end of Cuba to the North- 

 ward, till it difembogues by the Florida gulph into the Atlantic ocean ; 

 the ftrong barracade of the Bahama ifles and flionls, together with a 

 counter current proceeding from the Bahama ftrait, feeming to guide its 

 efflux that way. The natural courfe of the water, on the Eaft Florida 

 coaft, fliould be fuppofed from Wefl to Eaft; but the current here has 

 been obferved to be often irregular. When it runs with greateft impe- 

 tuofity, the Bah.ima ifles and flioals againft which it fets, may poffibly 

 occafion an eddy; and the reverberated water may turn back again along 

 the Florida fhore to the Wertward, or S, W,, towards the Martyres. 

 At other times, the rivers, which difcharge in great abundance from the 

 lakes and fwamps m that country, may produce a like eflfcrft. Mariners 

 have remarked, that within the gulph, the current often fets Wefterly, 

 or S. W., on the Florida fide, along fliore, and N. E. and N. off the 

 Cuba and Bahama fides; and, in order lo avoid thofe dangerous reefs 

 which environ the Florida coaft, they endeavour to get well in with the 

 land about the Havannah; make an allowance of four or five points in the 

 compafs for the current;, and fteer, as near as poflable, for the Bahama fide. 

 The regular trade blows at Cuba from March till October or November; 

 during this fpace, the flux of water continues with little variation, from 

 the E. and S. E. into the Bay of Mexico, and out again, to the North- 

 ward through the Florida gulph. In the other months, the wind often 

 blows violently from the N., or N. VV., into the Northern mouth of the 

 gulph ; and, meeting the current in oppofitlon, raifes a chopping, danger- 

 ous fea. When this happens, the efflux of the water might, in fome de- 

 gree, (it would be imagined) bs retarded; at leaft, to a certain depth, 

 although below that depth it might be unalfeded, and perfift to run in a 

 direftion contrary to the wind ; but there is reafon for believing, that the 

 current runs with unufual velocity at inch times, aided by the drift of 

 water from the Florida fide; where itis.remai-ked, that Northerly winds 



almoft:. 



