360 ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



at the mouth of Porto Bello harbour, in fourteen fathom water ; Caftle Todo Fierro, 

 or the iron caftle, bearing north-eaft four degrees northerly ; and the fouth point of the 

 harbour eaft one quarter northerly. The difference of longitude between Carthagena 

 and Punta de Nave, we found to be 4^^ 24'. 



We had fteered weft-north-weft and weft one quarter northerly, till the fhip was ob- 

 ferved to be in the eleventh degree of latitude, when we ftood to the weft. But when 

 our difference of longitude from Carthagena was 3^ 10', we altered our courfe to fouth- 

 weft and fouth, a quarter wefterly, which, as already obferved, on the 29th of Novem- 

 ber, at five in the evening, brought us in fight of Punta de Nave, which being fouth of 

 us, we were obliged to make feveral tacks before we could get into the harbour. 



In this paffage we met with frefh gales. The two firft days at north quarter eafterly, 

 and the other days till we made the land at north-eaft, a high fea running the whole 

 time. But we were no fooner in fight of Punta de Nave, thim it became calm, and a 

 breeze from the land fprung up, which hindered us from getting that day into the har- 

 bour. It alfo continued contrary on the 30th ; but, by the help of our oars, and being 

 towed, we got at laft to the anchoring-place, where we went on fhore, with our bag- 

 gage and inftruments neceffary for beginning our obfervations. But this being the moft 

 proper place for mentioning the winds which prevail in this paffage along the coaft, and 

 that of Carthagena, we fhall beftow fome paragraphs on them. 



There are two forts of general winds on thefe coafts ; the one called Brifas, which 

 blow from the north-eaft, and the other called Vendabales, which come A-om the weft, 

 and weft-fouth-weft. The former fet in about the middle of November, but are not 

 fettled till the beginning or middle of December, which is here the fummer, and con- 

 tinue blowing frefh and invariable till the middle of May ; they then ceafe, and are fuc- 

 ceeded by the vendabales, but with this difference, that thefe do not extend farther than 

 1 « or 1 2|- degrees of latitude, beyond which the brifas conftantly reign, though with 

 different degrees of ftrength, and veer fometimes to the eaft, and at other times to the 

 north. 



The feafon of the vendabales is attended with violent ftorms of wind and rain j but 

 they are foon over, and fucceeded by a calm equally tranfitory ; for the wind gradually 

 frefhens, efpecially near the land, where thefe phenoma are more frequent. The fame 

 happens at the end of Odober and beginning of November, the general winds not being 

 fettled. 



In the feafon of the brifas, the currents, as far as 12** or 12^ 30' of latitude, fet to 

 the weftward, but with lefs velocity than ufual at the changes of the moon, and greater 

 at the full. But beyond that latitude they ufually fet north-weft. Though this muft 

 not be underftood without exception ; as, for inftance, near iflands or fhoals, their courfe 

 becomes irregular : fometimes they flow through long channels, and fometimes they 

 are met by others ; all which proceeds from their feveral directions, and the bearings 

 of the coafts ; fo that the greateft attention is neceffary here, the general accounts not 

 being fufRcient to be relied on ; for, though they have been given by pilots who have for 

 twenty or thirty years ufed this navigation, in all kinds of veffels, and therefore have 

 acquired a thorough knowledge, they themfelves confefs that there are places where 

 the currents obferve no kind of regularity, like thofe we have mentioned. 



When the brifas draw near their period, which is about the beginning of April, 

 the currents change their courfe, running to the eaftward for eight, ten, or twelve 

 leagues from the coaft, and thus continue during the whole feafon of the vendabales j 

 on which account, and the winds being at this feafon contrary for going from Cartha- 

 gena to Porto Bello, it is neceffary to fail to twelve or thirteen degrees of latitude, or 



even 



