TOL. XVI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, 323 



wind blows generally at S.W. and W. S. W. with which winds they cannot go 

 to the northward for the land, and on the other tack they can lie no nearer the 

 wind than S. S. E. or S. ; with these courses they run off the shore, but in so 

 doing they always find the winds more and more contrary ; so that when near 

 the shore they could lie south ; at a greater distance they can make their way no 

 better than S, E. and afterwards E. S. E. with which courses they fetch com- 

 monly the isle of St. Thomas and Cape Lopez, where finding the winds to the 

 eastward of the south, they keep them favourable by running away to the west- 

 ward in the south latitude of 3 or 4°, where the south-east winds are perpetual. 



For the sake of these general winds, all those that use the West Indian trade, 

 even those bound to Virginia, reckon it their best course to get as soon as they 

 can to the southward, that so they may be certain of a fair and fresh gale, to 

 run before it to the westward ; and for the same reason those homeward bound 

 from America endeavour to gain the latitude of 30° as soon as possible, where 

 they first find the winds begin to be variable, though the most ordinary winds 

 in the northern part of the Atlantic ocean come from between the south and 

 west. 



What is here said is to be understood of the sea winds, at some distance 

 from the land ; for upon and near the shores the land and sea breezes are almost 

 every where sensible, and the great variety which happens in their periods, force, 

 and direction, arises from the situation of the mountains, valleys, and woods, 

 and from the various texture of the soil, more or less capable of retaining and 

 reflecting heat, and of exhaling or condensing vapours. 



II. In the Indian Ocean the winds are partly general, as in the Ethiopic 

 Ocean, and partly periodical, that is, half the year they blow one way, and the 

 other half nearly on the opposite points, and these points and times of shifting 

 are different in different parts of this ocean ; the limits of each tract of sea sub- 

 ject to the same change or monsoon are certainly very hard to determine ; yet 

 the following particulars may be relied on, being the result of great care and 

 diligence: — 



1. That between the latitudes of 10° and 30° south, as between Madagascar 

 and New Holland, the general trade wind about the south-east by east, is found 

 to blow all the year long, after the same manner as in the same latitudes of the 

 Ethiopic Ocean. 



•2. That the aforesaid south-east winds extend to within 2° of the equator, 

 during the months of June, July, August, &c. to November, at which time, 

 between the south latitudes of 3° and 10°, being near the meridian of the north 

 end of Madagascar, and between 2° and 12° south latitude, being near Sumatra 

 and Java, the contrary winds from the north-west, or between the north and 



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