Ch.V. south AMERICA. 349 



In this pafTage to the Newfoundland leas, ftorms 

 are very frequent, yet they differ according to the 

 feafons of the year. We have already feen that they 

 moft ufually happen when the wind is at S. and though 

 the northern winds are very ftrong, yet they do not e- 

 qual thofe of the former quarters. On attending to 

 this particular, a certain conformity will be found be- 

 twixt the two oppofite hemifpheres as in each, be- 

 fides the circulation of the winds, the ftorms happen 

 when they blow from that part of the pole oppofite to 

 that which is neareft each hemifphere. In the Souih- 

 fea theftorms generally rife from the N. and W. winds; 

 and in that of the N. they are occafioned by the S. and 

 and W. winds. 



The hard gales vv^hich are met with in fummer in 

 the palTage to Newfoundland, are of no long continu- 

 ance, like the two with which we were furprized in 

 this voyage ; but they are more fudden and violent 

 than in winter ; for from their beginning to the very 

 height of their violence is fcarce half an hour ; and 

 though in this feafon they are not very frequent, yet it 

 never pafTes without fome : but in winter they continue 

 three or four days fuccelTively, and with no fmali 

 force. Thefe of both feafons are more or lefs accom- 

 panied with fogs and fhowers. 



July the 3ifl, according to my account, at eight 

 in the morning, being in 45 deg. 57 min. latitude, and 

 27 deg-. ^ min. E. of Conception, we foiind by the 

 whitifh tinge of the water, that we had entered on the 

 bank; and on founding found 55 fathom, and the 

 bottom, fand mixed with fmall fhells. On comparing 

 the founding and the bottom with the new French 

 map, my reckoning of the courfe was fix or feven 

 leagues too forward ; that is, we had that diftance to 

 fail before we came to a bottom of that kind. On the 

 evening we tack'd with an intent of lefTening our lati- 

 tude, as well to keep at a diftance from Placentia, 

 as to avoid fome fhoals lying at the weft end of the 



bank 



