Andes fteep and craggy Mountains. The Lanos have 
fome ten Leagues in oreadth, in fome parts lefs and in 
fome more, the Sterra contains fome 20 Leagues in 
breadth, the Andes as much, fometimes more, fome- 
times lefs, they run in length from North to South, and 
in breadth from Eaft tb Weft. This part of the World 
is faid to have thefe remarkable things, i. All along 
the Coaft in the Lanos it blows continually with one only 
wind, which is South and South- Weft, contrary to that 
which ufually blows under the torrid .^^z^. 2. It never 
rains, thunders, Inows nor hailes in all this Coaft or La- 
nos tho there falls (ometimes a fmall dew. 3. Upon 
the Andes it rains almoft continually, tho' it be fome- 
times more clear than other. 4. In the Sierra, which 
lies betwixt both the extreams, it rains from September to 
April, but in the other feafons it is more cleat, which is 
when the Smi isfartheft off, and the contrary when it rs 
neareft. Now the reafon of all feemsto be this. The 
Eaftern Brifes which blow conftantly under the Line be- 
ing ftopt in their Courfe by the Sierras and Andes, and 
yet the fame Brifes being to be found in the SouthSea 
beyond Peru, as appears by theealie Voyages from Peru 
to the Philippines, a Current of wind blows from the 
South on the plains 01 Peru to fupply the Eaftern £r(/> in 
the South fea ; and there being but one conftant Gale in 
thele plains, and no contrary winds, nor hills for it to 
beat upon, this feems to be the reafon why the Vapours 
are never or very feldom driven into rain . And the 
being as high perhaps in many places as the Vapours 
afcend m the higheft degree of x]\t Atmofpheres Gravity, 
this may probably be the realon why the Eaftern Brzjc 
beating conftantly againft thefe hills occaiion rains upon 
them at all fealons of the year. And the Sierras being 
it leems lower than the Andes, therefore from September 
to April, when the Sun is neareft, and fo the Atmofpberes 
Gravity {tk, ^lwA t\iQ Vapours lovfQV^ they are driven a- 
gaintt Sierras into rain* The 
