BOOK III. CHAP. Vir. 671 



The range of the more fteady currents in tliefe feas, according to the 

 teftimony of navigators, may be thus Hated, for a general rule. 



Diredion. 

 In the Strait between Cape Nicolas (Hifpaniola) and Cape 



Mayze (Cuba), N. E. 



E. end of Jamaica, and Cape Tiburon 



(Hifpaniola), N. by E. 



N. fideof Jamaica, and S. fide of Cuba, W. by N. 

 Old BahamaChanneUN. fide of Cuba, W. N. W. 

 Cape Catoche, and Cape Antonio, W. 



Off the Havaunah, E. 



Off the Colorados, — — E. by N» 



Gulph Channel between Bahama Ifles 



and Eaft Florida, N. 



fCoaft of Eaft Florida within the 



gulph, fometimes S. W» 



° ' j Caicoes or Turk's Iflands, (off N. E. 



t part of Hiipaniola,) fometimes Wefterly. 



The tides are equally as variable and irregular as the fmaller currents. 



In their periods of flux and reflux ; but feldom flow more than three feet, 



either at the North fide of the Bay of Mexico, at the Weft end of Cuba, 



or at St. Auguftine, the Northern extremity of Eaft Florida. 



We obferve here, four remarkable provifions for keeping the ocean be- 

 tween the Tropics in conftant motion, that its waters may not, by ftag- 

 nation and corruption, prove deftruftive to animal life ; they are, the 

 trade winds, the greater faltnefs of the water, tides, and currents. The 

 greater advantage of currents to perform the apprirent deftination of tides 

 in this climate, where the ebb and flow is fubjedl to fo much irregularity,, 

 and is, in general, fo inconfiderable, arifes from hence; that if the fea 

 lliould recede here from the fnore to a great dlllance, during feveral 

 hours, as in the Northern countries, leaving an extenfive traft of mud 

 and filth, expofed to the exhalation of the lun, and attion of the wind, 

 the flench produced from them would be infupportable to human inhabi- 

 tants. A moderate North wind, now and then, lets the water fomewhat 

 higher upon the North coafts of this ifland,. and forces it to recede pro- 

 portionably from the South (hores ; but the coolnefs and drying quality 

 of that windi as well as its fetting off the South ihore, eorre6t or diffi- 



5 pate 



