where the south pole is depressed, and the north pole elevated above the horizon. And this observation was made by the ancients, though with uncertainty and obscurity: but it excellently agrees with modern experience; because the constant breeze we speak of, which may be a motion of the air, is not due east, but northeasterly.*

*

SECT. IV.

OF STATED WINDS WITH REGARD TO THE THIRD ARTICLE OF THE TABLE OF ENQUIRY.

TRANSITION.

As the minds of men seem to have been dark in the enquiry about general winds; so, in that of stated winds they seem to have been giddy: for of the former they say nothing; and of the latter they talk very ramblingly. But this is the more pardonable, because the thing itself is variable; since stated winds change with the place, so as not to blow the same, for instance, in Egypt, Greece, and Italy.

* Some additions might be made to this section, from Mr. Bohun's Discourse concerning the Origin and Properties of Winds. Printed at Oxford, An. 1671.

That there are stated winds in some place or other, may appear from the very name; and again, from that other appellation of Etesian, or anniversary winds.

One cause of the overflowing of the Nile, was antiently made the blowing of the Etesian, or northerly winds, at that time of the year; so as to prevent the course of the river into the sea, and drive it backwards.

There are currents found in the sea, which can neither be attributed to the natural motion of the ocean, nor to the declivity of more elevated parts, nor to the straitness of opposite shores, nor to promontories running out into the sea; but are plainly governed by stated winds.

Those who will not allow Columbus to have conceived so certain and fixed an opinion of the West-Indies, from the relation of a Spanish pilot, yet think it trifling for him to have formed it upon the obscure traces and rumours of antiquity, pretend he conjectured there must be a continent to the west, from the stated winds on the coast of Portugal. And though this be an uncertain and somewhat improbable thing; since the course of those winds can scarce be kept for so great a distance; yet it derives honour to the present enquiry, if the discovery of a new world be owing to one axiom, or observation, of the many it con

tains.

2

Wherever there are high mountains covered with snow; stated winds blow from that quarter at the time the snow dissolves.

We suspect also, that stated winds may blow from great tracts of marsh-land, overflowed in the winter; and this about such time as the sun begins to dry up the water: but of this we have no settled observation.

Wherever vapours are generated in great abundance, and this at certain times; stated winds are there found to rise, at those times.

When stated winds blow in any place, and their cause be not found near at hand; such stated winds must be deemed foreign, and to come from

far.

It is observed, that stated winds blow not in the night; but rise about three hours after the sun is up: whence they seem to be so weakened, or, as it were, tired with a long journey, that they can scarce break through the nocturnal condensation of the air; but are again quickened and recovered a little after sun-rising.

All stated winds are weak, except they blow from places near at hand; and ever yield to the winds that rise of a sudden.

There are many stated winds which we do not perceive, or observe, by reason of their weakness; as being suppressed, or over-powered, by the free winds: and are therefore scarce found

in the winter, when the free winds are most abroad; but rather towards the summer, when such wandering winds are stiller.

In Europe, the principal stated winds are, 1. northerly winds, from the solstice; and these both precede and follow the rise of the dog-star; 2. the west winds, from the autumnal equinox; and, 3. the east winds, from the vernal: but for the winter solstice, it is not much to be regarded, because of the changes and alterations whereto the winter is subject.

The bird-winds, (so called on account of their bringing birds from cold regions beyond the sea, into warmer) have no relation to stated winds; because they often deceive in point of time: but let them blow sooner or later, the birds wait for them; and frequently, after these winds begin to blow, they again fall off, and fail the birds, which thence drop into the sea, and sometimes upon ships.

There is hitherto discovered no way of predicting the return of the winds, to a certain day and hour; as there is in the case of the tides: some writers indeed, now and then fix a day for their return; but they do this rather from conjecture than certain observations.*

* Consult Bohun's discourse of Winds.

SECT. V.

OF SERVING WINDS; WITH REGARD TO THE FOURTH ARTICLE OF THE TABLE OF ENQUIRY.

་ ་ རྣ

TRANSITION.

THIS term of serving winds we have coined, to the end that observations upon them may not be lost; or confounded along with the others. Our meaning is this. Divide, for example, the year into three, four, or five parts, in whatever country; and if any wind blow there for two, three, or four of these parts; and a contrary wind but for one part; then the wind which blows oftenest we call the serving or waiting wind of that country. And the like may be understood of the weather.

The south and north winds are the serving winds of the world; for these and their divisions, blow more frequently over all the globe than the east and west winds, with their divisions.

All the free winds wait more upon the winter than the summer; but principally upon the autumn and the spring.

All the three winds wait more upon the regions without the tropics and polar circles, than