€ A Voyage to 



During that Time, we difcover'd a fmallShip, which 

 we judgM to be a Portugueze from the Ifland of Madera ; 

 but the Sea ran too high, and we had too much Bufinefs 

 of our own, to go about to take Prizes. However, that 

 Wind did us no other Harm, than breaking down our 

 Lar-board Gallery ; but on the contrary, caus'd us to 

 make much Way. No fooner were we come into the 

 Latitude of 32 Degrees, than we found a delightful Sea, 

 and Trade-winds from the N. and N. E. which, with- 

 out difturbing the Sea, drove us along with their agree- 

 able Freflinefs, and caus'd us to rid much Way with 

 great Eafe. 



After a ftormy difmal Seafon, we enjoy'd the Plea- 

 fure of a fine Climate, and of fair ferene Days, when 

 we difcover'd Land, towards the Evening, bearing S.E. 

 and by E. about 15 Leagues diftant. It was a frefli Sa- 

 tisfaction to us, to know we were near the Ifland of 

 Falma IJltnd. Palwa ; and more particularly to me, who, by my Rec- 

 koning, found myfelf at that Diftance exactly ; not 

 that I ought to afcribe that Exa&nefs to my own Skill, 

 it being the Effe£t of Chance and of the Calculation of 

 the two firft Lieutenants, who took Care to keep the 

 Account by the Log ; but becaufe the reft, who knew 

 I had never learnt Navigation, nor been at Sea, could 

 not be perfuaded, that, with a little Help of the Mathe- 

 niaticks, a Man can do the fame that thofe of the Pro- 

 feifion do Mechanically, without being able to give any 

 Geometrical Reafon for the meaneft of their Perfor- 

 mances. 



%m#rh on ^ iS true 3 f° ur or ^ ve Obfervations of the Sun's 

 the Log-line. Meridian Altitude, fet us very r^ght; ever fince our 

 coming out, we found our felves, for the moft part, 

 lefs advanc'd than our Reckoning. I was of Opinion, 

 that the faid Error was occafion'd by the Divifion of the 

 Log-line, to which our Navigators ufe to allow only 

 41 Foot and 8 Inches from Knot to Knot, for the third 

 Part of a League, making tli£ Sea League to contain 



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