Ch. I. SOUTH AMERICA. 



flood without exception ; as, for inftance, near iflands 

 or ihoals, their courfe becomes irregular : Sometimes 

 they flow through long channels ; and fometimes they 

 are met by others ; all which proceeds from their fe- 

 veral diredtions, and the bearings of the coafts \ fo 

 that the greateft attention is neceflary here, the general 

 accounts not being fufficient to be relied on ; for, 

 though they have been given by pilots who have for 

 twenty or thirty years ufed this navigation, in all kinds 

 of vefTels, and therefore have acquired a thorough 

 knowledge, they themfelves confefs that there are 

 places where the currents obferve no kind of regu- 

 larity, like thofe we have mentioned.- ' 



When the brifas draw near their period, ^hich 

 is about the beginning of April, the currents change 

 their courfe, running to the eaftward for eight, ten, or 

 twelve leagues from the coaft^ and thus continue 

 during the whole feafon of the vendibales ; on which 

 account, and the winds being at this feafon contrary 

 for going from Carthagena to Porto Bello, it is ne- 

 ceflary to fail to 1 2 or 1 3 degrees of latitude, or even 

 fometimes farther ; when, being without the verge of 

 thofe winds, the voyage is eaflly performed* 



While the brifas blow ftrongeft, a very impetuous 

 current fets into the gulph of Darien ; and out of it 

 during the feafon of the vendibales. This fecond 

 change proceeds from the many rivers which difcharge 

 themfelves into it, and at that time being greatly 

 fwelled by the heavy rains, peculiar to the feafon ^ fo 

 that they come down with fuch rapidity, as violently 

 to propel the water out of the gulph. But in the fea- 

 fon of the brifas thefe rivers are low, and fo weak, 

 that the current of the fea overcomes their refiftance, 

 fills the gulph, and returns along the windings of the 

 coaft* 



CHAP, 



