Ch.I. south AMERICA. 13 



tornadoes or fqualls proceed, I cannot pofitively af- 

 firm ; but this is certain, that when they are over, 



, the wind begins to blow from the fame point as be- 

 fore, and nearly with the fame force. And here it 

 may be of ufe to obferve, that, on any appearance of 

 thefe fqualls in the atmofphere, the utmoft expeditioa 

 muft be ufed in getting the fhip in readinefs, their 

 impetuofity being fo fudden as to admit of no time 

 for preparatives j and therefore the leaft negligence 

 may be attended with the moft fatal confequences. 



In the voyage from Cadiz to the Canaries, in fbme 

 parts, though the winds are otherwife moderate, the Tea 

 is agitated by thofe from the N. and N. W. fometimes 

 in large and long waves ; fometimes in fmail but more 

 frequent ones, which happens when the wind blows 

 ftrongly along the coaft of France and Spain ; for in 



^ the ocean the winds are fo mild, that the motion of che 

 fhip is hardly perceived, which renders the pafiage ex- 

 tremely quiet and agreeable. Within the windward 

 iflands, and even before we reach them, in the parts 

 where thefe terrible fqualls prevail^ the fea is agitated 

 in proportion to their violence and duration ; but no 

 fooner is the wind abated, than the water becomes 

 again clear and fmooth. 



The atmofphere of the ocean anfwers to the calm- 

 nefs of the winds and fea, fo that it is very feldom an 

 obfervation cannot be taken, either from the fun's 

 being obfcured, or the hazinefs of the horizon. This 

 is to be iinderftood of the fair feafon ; for otherwife 

 here are dark days, when the air is filled with vapours, 

 and the horizon very hazy. At all times it is feen filled 

 with white and towering clouds, embelliihing the fey 

 with a variety of figures and ramiiications, which am ufe 

 the eye, tired with being fo long confined to two fucK- 

 fimilar objeds as the fea and iky. Within the wind- 

 ward iflands the variety is (till greater, the quantity of 

 vapours profufely exhaled, filling it in fuch a manner, 

 that fometimes nothing but clouds are to be feen«, though 



7 part 



