34^ A VOYAGE T© BooicIX. 



obliged us to furl every fail, and lie to. We had 

 alfo here a very high fea to encounter with, but in 

 two hours our appreheniions were relieved, the v/ind 

 Ihifting to the N. W. and abating confiderably ; and 

 two hours after it again returned to the N. whence 

 at ten at night it veered to W. one quarter foutherly, 

 and became fo moderate that we could carry cur top- 

 fails. Here it fectied, and the weather became fair and 

 eafy ; but thefe variations, by forcing us out of our 

 true courfe, were of great detriment to us, as will be 

 feen in the fequel. 



On the loth, being in the latitude of 45 deg. 14 

 min, and 17 deg. 25 min. E. of Conception^ with the 

 wind at S. it began to blow, and at five in the morn- 

 ing, we were obliged to take in all the reefs in our top- 

 fails j it then fhifted to the S. S. W. v/ith a prodigious 

 fea ; fo that at three in the afternoon M'e were obliged 

 to lie to under a reefed mainfail. At ten o'clock it 

 fliifted to the S. W. and S. W, one quarter wefterly ; 

 when abating a little on the uth, at fix in the morn- 

 ing, we made way under our forefail and topfails all 

 reef 'd and the wind continued for fome time in this 

 rhomb. 



The ufual inclination of the wind in thefe feas, and 

 comm.on to all parts of the northern hemifphere, is to 

 follow t-he fun from E. to S. S. S. W. and N. fome- 

 thing like what has been obferved in the chapters which 

 treat of the South-fea. And thus when it has blown a 

 itorm, inftead of continuing its inclination, it returns ; 

 and though with all the appearance of a calm, within 

 a day or two it rifes again with redoubled fury. This 

 is a difficulty not eafily folved, for among the great 

 number of perfons, otherwife doubtlefs refpectable 

 for their eminent talents, who have applied themfelves 

 to invedigate the caufes and origin of winds, not one 

 of them has accounted for their irregularities and gra- 

 dations, both with regard to their variations, impulfe, 

 and dircdion. 



In 



