And fuch is the Force of this Current, that when Ships approach too near the Shore it carries them violently toward that Bay, aad deceives the Mariners in their Reckoning. Hence it comes to pafs, that Ships which fail in two Days Time from the Shore of Mouree to Rio de Benin, [or Formofa] which is one hundred Dutch Miles, require fometimes fix or feven Weeks to return from Benin to Mouree, unless they run out into the main Ocean, which is not easily done, because the Current fets to the North-East, and runs fwiftly from the Island of St Thomas, towards the Bay of Fernando Poo, carrying in with it the Ships tho' they have a fair North-East Wind; and they can scarcely get from the Shore, unless they be driven by these fudden Storms which break from the Clouds (called Travados) which feldom happen, and in fome Months not at all. Current destroyed feveral Ships before Mariners were well aware of it; as being either unadvisedly driven upon the Rocks and Shoals, and perished by Shipwreck, or detained in the Bay 'till they died with Hunger.

This

BUT this Current affects not the whole Ethiopic Ocean, only that Part which is adjacent to the Shore of Guinea, to the end of the Bay, and to about one Degree of South Latitude. It is obferved not to exceed the Distance of fourteen Miles from the Shore; therefore Ships are very careful left they should approach fo near, when they fail along thefe Coafts; which would hinder their intended Course, and drive them to a Place they would not care to vifit.

IT is no eafy thing to find out the Cause of this Current fo near the Shore, when the main Ocean thereabouts moves the contrary Way from East to Weft. Two Things may be faid for it:

1. THE

1. THE Ocean being repulfed by the Ame rican Shore moves flowly to the Eastward, but this Motion is not felt in the Main, because the other destroys it, and renders it lefs fenfible, only near the Shore it runs fwiftly towards Fernando Poo, which, being stretched a pretty way into the Land is fitteft to receive it; and the Reason why it is not felt in other Places upon the Shore of Africa (as at Congo) is, because the Rapidity of the Rivers breaks and obftructs it.

2. THERE may be fome fubterraneous Receptacle in the Bay of Fernando Poo, into which the Sea perhaps may fall and draw the reft of the Ocean. But this may feem lefs probable; they that have opportunity of obferving it better may give better Reasons.

PROPOSITION XXIV.

[To point out the Place of the fecond perpetual Current].

THE Ocean moves fwiftly from about Sumatra into the Bay of Bengal, from South to North; fo that it is probable this Bay was made by the Rapidity of the Current; by which also perhaps the Peninsula of Malacca was feparated from India. I do not know whether the Caufe may be owing to the many Islands, and to Cape Mabo, upon the South Continent, whereby the Ocean in it's Paffage weftward may be diverted northwards: or there may be a fubterraneous Receptacle in the Bay itfelf.

BE it how it will, I fuppofe the Current doth not fet directly to the North, but rather to the North-Weft. This fame Current is felt between Java and the South Continent, and therefore when the Dutch fail to the Indies, they firft make to

wards

wards the South Continent, and then direct their Courfe from South to North to come at Java.

PROPOSITION XXV.

[To point out the Place of the third perpetual Current].

BETWEEN Madagascar and the Cape of Good-Hope, and more especially between Terra de Natal and the Cape, there is a strong Current which fets from North-East to South-Weft (the fame way as the Shore runs) and is carried with fuch a rapid and extraordinary Motion, that Ships, with a brisk Wind, can hardly weather it, or fail against it, to Madagascar; on the contrary, they that fail out of the Chanel, between Madagascar and Africa, towards the Cape of Good-Hope, are carried thither without the Help of the Winds, purely by the Force of the Current. I fuppofe this to be the Caufe, that the Indian Ocean, being forced towards the African Shore, and thereby diverted from it's direct Courfe, naturally flows towards the Cape of Good-Hope; where it finds a Paffage. For in the main Ocean, remote from the Shores, this Motion is not oblique but direct, from Eaft to Weft.

PROPOSITION XXVI.

[To point out the Place of the fourth perpetual Current].

IN the Pacific Ocean, along the Shores of Peru, and the reft of America, the Sea flows from South to North; which, no doubt, is owing to the constant South Winds which blow upon these Coasts; for neither these Winds, nor the Currents are obferved out at Sea,

PRO

PROPOSITION XXVII.

[To obferve the Place of the fifth perpetual Current].

THIS is obferved to flow from Cape St Auguftin, in Brafil, along the Coast of America, among the Antilles in the Bay of Mexico, towards Florida, which is from South to North. For the Sea being driven by it's general Motion against the Shore of Brafil, is there repulfed, and carried northward, where the Chanel is broader and more open, which very likely caufes this Current. The like Motion northwards is found at the Mouth of the Streights of Manilba, one of the Philippines. Likewife in Japan there is a very fwift Current from the Port of Xibuxia towards Arimia.

PROPOSITION XXVIII.

[To fhew the Place of the fixth perpetual Current].

THIS is in the Streights of La Maire, where the Sailors in the Nassau Ship obferved the Current to fet to the Eaft; but this we cannot give fo much Credit to, fince La Maire himself writes to the contrary.

THERE are other Currents near the Shores of feveral Countries, but not yet accurately enough obferved or defcribed.

VOL. I.

T

PRO

PROPOSITION XXIX.

To thefe perpetual Currents may be referred fuch as are made by large Rivers, where they exonerate themfelves into the Sea.

AT the Shore of Loango, ten or twelve Dutch Miles from Congo in Africa, there is a strong Current from the Land towards the Weft; because of the many vaft Rivers, (of which the Zaire is the greateft) which fall headlong into the Sea, and repel the Water; being helped by the general Motion. Therefore it requires fome Days before Ships can come up to thefe Shores, tho' but a Dutch Mile or two from them.

SO at the Island of Lamton, upon the Coast of China, the Sea moves from the Shore to the eaftward, contrary to the general Motion, which is from the Eaft to China. This Current is caused by the ftrong Efflux of the great River Thoncoan [or Ta] and is not obferved out at Sea any further than the Bafhee Inlands.

THUS far concerning the conftant Currents; we fhall add fomewhat about thofe that are stated or anniversary.

PROPOSITION XXX.

There is a great variety of shifting Currents which do not last, but return at certain Periods; and thefe do most of them depend upon, and follow, the anniversary Winds, or Monfoons, which by blowing in one Place may caufe a Current in another.

AT Java, in the Streights of Sunda, when the Monfoons blow from the Weft, viz. in the Month

2

of