Book X. Ifand of BARBADOS. 301 
Part, is occafioned by the Nearnefs of the South=Weft Continent of 
America to this Ifland, and the Remotenefs of the Continent on the 
North-Eaft, or oppofite Part from it. 
For, when, the Waters, at thefe Spring-Tides are elevated and. deprefl- 
ed, by Turns, by the Influence of the Moon, they will naturally recede 
towards that Point where they meet with the leaft Refiftance ; there- 
fore, tho’ the Courfe of the Current may, and often doth, run towards 
the South-Welt ;. yet, as foon as it is refifted by the Continent of 
America, on that Point, which is not quite three hundred Miles 
diftant from this Ifland, it recoils back with redoubled Force towards 
the oppofite Point, which is the North-Eaft; and, as it meets there 
with no Refiftance, ’till it comes to the Continent of Africa, which is 
about two thoufand Miles diftant from this Ifland, it is no Wonder that 
the Current, efpecially in the Decreafe of the Moon, is more inclined that 
Way; and, when it varies from thefe Courfes, it may be attributed 
chiefly to the Change of the Wind from the true Trade Eafterly 
Winds to the South-Weft ; or perhaps to the great and violent Land- 
Floods from the many and large Rivers from the neighbouring South- 
Weft Continent of America, which may fometimes byafs thefe Currents. 
It hath been obferved by many Writers, that the Sea-water is falter 
in thefe hot Climates than in other Northern Seas. This Difference the 
ingenious Mr. Rohautt fays; arifes from hence, viz. That the Sun’s 
‘© Heat, being more intenfe near the Equator than in thofe Seas which 
é are at a greater Diftance from it, a much greater Quantity of frefh 
& Water muft continually afcend up in Vapours, than elfewhere ; 
“ which do not often defcend again in Rain, ’till they are carried to a 
“ oreat Diftance from thence: fo that there being a lefs Quantity of 
that which temperates the Salt to be found in thofe Seas which are 
© between the two Tropics, than in thofe Seas which are in the frigid 
«& and temperate Zones ; it is no Wonder if their Waters are falter:” 
And he likewife adds, “© That the Ocean is of much larger Extent be- 
* tween the Tropics than any where elfe, and yet there are fewer Ri- 
“ vers that difcharge themfelves into it.” 
The Caufe of the Water’s greater Degree of Saltnefs in thefe Parts, 
being thus explained, the Wifdom of fuch Allotments of Providence 
will foon appear, when we farther confider, that as the calm Latitudes 
are within the Tropics, therefore if the Sea was not much impregnated 
with Salt, its Surface in thofe Parts, called the calm Latitudes, would 
in all likelihood ftagnate, and fend up fo many impure and ftinking Va- 
pours, that it would infect not only thofe but the adjacent ee with 
Diftempers, perhaps very little lefs pernicious than the Plague itfelf. 
Of all the Fifh caught in our adjoining Sea, I fhall take notice of 
fuch only, as have been either infufliciently defcribed, or whofe Defcrip- 
tions have been totally neglected by other Authors. Among the former 
is the following. ects : a, 
