Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 004.djvu/117

 or never more Southerly; but on this side the Line they have sometimes been met between 11. and 12. degrees North-Latitude, and sometimes in 9. and 10. degrees. These Tornadoes are uncertain winds, blowing from all points of the Compass in the same hour, and sometimes the wind shifts thus without being intermitted, and other whiles it will be stark calme, almost between every puff. They are so confus'd, that let 4. or 5. Ships sail together as near as is fitting for Ships that keep company, at the same instant many times every Ship shall have a severall and contrary wind. And this place is almost alwayes infested with horrible thunders, lightnings and rain. And the nearer you are to the Africk-shore, so much more dreadfull is the Thunder and Rain: but the further West-ward you goe, the Thunder and Rain will be less, and the Winds not so uncertain; so that, if you go as farr West, as the Meridian of the East-side of Brasile, there is little Thunder, neither doth the Wind come down in such puffs and flawes; but between 4. and 8. degrees it is most inclined to Calmes, and very great and thick Foggs, and the Raines come not in such violent showers.

Likewise this is a sure rule, that near the Africk-shore, and so for 100. or 200. leagues West, the North-East-Winds commonly incline more and more to the East; so that by that time, you come to the West of the Meridian of the Azores about 20. degrees, the Trade or constant Wind will be mostly East-North-East.

Now as from 34. degr. to 44, near the Continent of Europe, the Winds are commonly between East and North; so after you come so fare West as the Meridian of the hithermost of the Azores, they are commonly between South-West and North-West. And for this reason Ships, that are outward bound to the Streights, keep near the coast of Portugall, but homeward bound they are many times forced to run farr West to fetch a Westerly wind. Likewise Ships bound to the Barbados go by the Canaries, but come home a great way to the North-West of the Azores. And the Virginia-ships are twice as long in going out, as they are in comming home, and many times longer: for, they come home befor the Wind directly,