INTRODUCTION* xliX 



that navigators are indebted for this im- 

 portant refearch. 



Ships which fet out from the IQe of 

 France for India were forced, during the 

 two monfoons, to purfue a long and indi- 

 rect route, in order to avoid that archipelago 

 of fmall iflands and ihoals fituated to the 

 north, Whilfl navigators were ignorant of 

 the true po fit ion of thefe dangerous objects, 

 there was little fafety for any fquadrou 

 which might have attempted a more dire<^t 

 courfe. On the fouth fide of the Line, from 

 the eighteenth degree of latitude to the 

 twenty-eighth^ the wind blows from the 

 fouth- eaft during the whole year. From 

 the eighteenth degree to the Equino£lial5 the 

 fouth-eaft monfoon commences in April,and 

 continues till October, at w^ich period it is 

 fucceeded by the eaftern monfoon. Oh 

 the north fide of the Line the cafe is entirely 

 contraiy. 



d Thofe 



