MifceUanea Curtofa. 65 



blows true, but there are frequent Calms, vio- 

 lent fudden Gufta call'd Tornado's, from all Points 

 of the Compafs, and (bmetimes unwholtbme fog- 

 gy Eafterly Winds, call'd Hermitaa by the Na- 

 tives, which too often infefl: the Navigation of 

 the/e parts. 



7. That to the Northwards of the Line, be- 

 tween four and ten Degrees of Latitude, and be- 

 tween the Meridians of Cape Virde, and of the 

 Eafterrrfoft Ifiands that bear that Name, there is 

 a Tract, of Sea wherein it were improper to fay 

 there is any Trade Wind, cr yet a Variable 5 

 for it feems condemn'd 10 perpetual Calms, at- 

 tended with terrible Thunder and Lightning, and 

 Rains fo frequent, that our Navigators . from 

 thence call this part of the Sea the Brains ; the 

 little Winds that are, be only fome fiidden un- 

 certain Gufts, of very little Continuance and 

 lefs Extent • fo that fometimes each Hour you 

 fhall have a different Gale, which dies away into 

 a Calm before another fucceed, and in a Fleet 

 of Ships in fight of one another, each mall have 

 the Wind from a (everal Point of the Compafs; 

 with thefe weak Breezes Ships are obliged to make 

 the beft of their way to the Southward through 

 the afcrefaid fix Degrees, wherein 'tis reported 

 fome have been detain'd whole Months for want 

 of Wind. 



From the three laft Obfervables is fhewn the 

 Reafon of two notable Occurents in the Eafl- 

 hidia and Guinea Navigations : The one is, 

 why, notwithftanding the narroweft part of the 

 Sea between Guinea and Bt^ile be aboot five 

 hundred Leagues over, yet Ships bound to the 

 Southward, fbmetimes, efpecially in the Months 

 of July and Augufly find a great difficulty to 

 pafs it. This happens becaufe of the South- 



F gait 



