THE CAEIBBEAN SEA. S59 



(330.) Lieutenant A. H. Bisschop Greevelink, in commando! the Dutch 

 Eoyal Navy brig Echo, 1833 — 1837, from his four years experience in these 

 seas, came to the following conclusions : — " The direction of Currents iiv 

 the Atlantic is reconcileable with the force and direction of the Trade 

 Winds, but the height of the water-level in the Caribbean Sea will some- 

 times baffle every calculation both within and without the range of islands, 

 as shown indubitably by experiments founded, not only upon the method 

 of ascertaining Currents at sea, but also within sight of land, and obser- 

 vations made on shore along the coasts. It has also been found that during 

 calm weather, even with strong Easterly winds, the Currents have some- 

 times been running for days together to the Eastward, especially in the 

 latter parts of January and July, when, by the then prevailing strong 

 winds, the water is heaped up in a very uncommon degree, and the inner 

 part of the Caribbean Sea, most probably overcharged, succeeds in re- 

 establishing its equilibrium by forsaking the power of its wrathful driver. 

 In this manner, I think, we ought to reconcile those circumstances men- 

 tioned (314) by the illustrious Spanish commander. Admiral Cosm^ de 

 Churruca. 



" In the Caribbean Sea the force and direction of the Currents are more 

 distinctly modified by the direction of the wind. With continual light 

 winds and smooth water the Currents are generally weak, augmenting only 

 in proportion to the increasing wind. This may serve as a proof that, 

 among other less perceptible causes, under which they are governed here. 

 Wind is the most powerful agent ; for the indraught through the channels 

 appears plainly to proceed from the force and extent of the Trade Winds. 

 In this sea, from the Windward Islands Westward, to 72° of longitude, 

 the general direction of Currents, observed during our four years cruize, 

 was N.W. and Westerly ; the weakest in October, November, April, and 

 May ; the strongest in December, January, February, and March, along 

 the coast of Venezuela, and in July and August in the Northern parts ; 

 but, in general, so much always depended on the force of the wind, that, 

 with few exceptions, almost every voyage loas affected by a force of current 

 corresponding to that of the prevailing xoind." 



(331.) From Trinidad, Westward, and off the North side of the Leeward 

 Isles, the Current has been found setting West and S.W. to the Gulf of 

 Maracaybo ; thence S.W. also to Cartagena. From Cartagena toward 

 the Channel of Yucatan it has been found N.N.W., N.W., W.N.W., and 

 N.W. by N., from 1 to nearly 2 miles, and then decreasing to 1^ mile per 

 hour. On these coasts it has also been found setting to the Eastward, as 

 showi> in the following pages. 



" On the Colombian (now Venezuelan) Coast," according to the Derrotero 

 de IojS Antillas, " from Trinidad to Cape la Vela, the Westerly Current 

 sweeps the frontier islands, inclining something to the South, according 

 to the strait which it comes from, and running about 1^ mile an hour, 

 with little difference. Between the islands and the coast, and particularly 

 in the proximity of the latter, it has been remarked that the Current at 

 times runs to the West, and at others to the East. From Cape la Vela 

 the principal part of the Current runs W.N.W. ; and, as it spreads, its 

 velocity diminishes. There is, however, a branch, which runs with the 



