THe Origines of Winds are no lesse Various then their Mo­tions, & we ought not to de­termine positively concerning those Appearances in nature, which may be rationally explicated severall ways.

Though we consult the Pla­cits of the learned Ancients, & con­sider also what we owe to the im­provements of latter times, yet I question whether any Theory was ever yet started on this Argument, which will adequately resolve the whole Phaenomenon of VVinds; and we must never expect to confine their Originall to any one determinate Cause.

Most of the Graecian Philosophers agreed in the same Definition of [Page 2] Wind; till the Prince of the Peripa­tetiques was not only ambitious to establish a New Hypothesis of his own, but likewise undertook the confutation of his Master Plato, & the rest of his Predecessors: The Philosophicall Monarch thought he could never raign securely in the minds of men, unlesse, like the Fa­mily of the Ottomans, he destroy'd all his Bretheren first.

I have no intention to disparage the Authority of the Ancients; but I cannot be so injurious to the many noble productions of our present Age, to think that all Science is only to be sought for in the Urns of the Dead: we have a more intimate con­verse with Nature then heretofore, which displays her beautifull Bo­some, and every day affords new Discoveries of usefull knowledge, [Page 3] and further conducing to the Bene­fit of Human life.

If we consider the successe that Philosophy has met with in the VVorld, we shall find that those Opinions, which obtain'd most in one Age, had their Fatall Periods, & were as much exploded & decry'd in the next; & it's as impossible that any one Hypothesis should be calcu­lated to the Gusto of all persons when the sentiments of men are different as their complexions: I have therefore taken a larger compasse then the Generallity of writers, and deriv'd the Origines of Winds from severall Causes; which I rather endeavour to prove from Accounts of our Sea-Voyages, and relations of Matters of Fact, then to refine on them by any nice specula­tions of my own. For this Philoso­phy [Page 4] is not to be had in Colleges or Books, but must be fetch't frō both Indies; we must traverse the wide Seas, & be tost to as many points of the Compasse, as Columbus or Drake; we must climb into the Re­gions of the Air, & descend into the Caverns of the Earth, to detect the innumerable Causes & Qualities of VVinds: They are diffus'd like the Universall mind, and it requires a kind of ubiquity to understand them. How small a portion is it of the vast system of the World, that we inha­bit, and how much lesse of it that we comprehend? How Extrava­gant are the Phaenomena of the large American tracts; their Tydes, VVinds, and other Aeriall im­pressions, how different and irre­concileable to Ours? How many noble discoverys have been made [Page 5] in these Countries, which the Athe­nian Sages could never think of in their narrow Porches & Gardens: They might spin fine webs out of their own bowels; but for want of a closer inspection into Nature, their Texture & Materials are slight. And we must acknowledge that even the Stagirite himself has left us no very perfect Theory of VVinds, though this Province of late years, has been more succesfully undertaken by the Lord Verulam, Galileo, De Car­tes, and other illustrious Moderns.

Aristotle constitutes two species of Exhalations; the one vapid or moist; the other [ [...]] Fu­mid or Terrene: and as the first is employ'd in Rain, Hail, or Snow, &c. So the other furnishes mate­rials for Winds, &c.

The Ancients understand no [Page 6] more by wind, then a Motion of the Air: Anaximander in Plutarch styles it, [...]: and some others, [...]: to which that of Seneca may allude; Ventus est Aer Fluens. But neither the Prince of the Peripatetics Nat. Quest. lib. 5. cap. 1. ever supposed them to consist of Earth (though it was always to be most predominant) nor the Anci­ents, of Air alone, without some allay of other Heterogeneous Ele­ments.

In the 23. Section of his Pro­blems, Aristotle himself denomi­nates Wind, [...], Aeris impulsum: yet in the 2 ^d book of Meteors, he seems rather to reflect this opinion on his predecessors, de­claring; [...], &c. cap. 4. So that Aristotle allows not the sim­ple [Page 7] agitation of Air to be reputed VVind; wherein he dissents from the Stoics, who held it only Motum aut Fluxionem Aeris: And there have not been wanting the most eminent moderns who embrac'd their senti­ments, as Gassendus, Beregard, Dorisi, &c. Mr. Hobs defines it, Air mov'd in a direct, or undulating motion: and to this purpose the learned Isaac Vossius Le Vent est un Movement & Agi­tation de l' Air, cau­sè par des Exhalai­sons & Vapeurs. Hydr. L. 15. C. 23. Fournier, Varenius, & many others.

The modern Peripatetics gene­rally agree in an Hot and Dry exha­lation, repuls't by the Antiperistasis of the middle Region; though I find no footsteps of any such opinion in the Text of Aristotle.

VVind, in the most Generall Acceptation, is, any Sensible Mo­tion of the Air: By Air, the Vulgar [Page 8] understand almost any invisible Matter, whether Rarify'd vapours or Water; though it consists of much grosser parts then that which is employ'd in respiration.

De Cartes computes, that Rarify'd Air requires only thrice, but Dilated vapours no lesse then 3000 times as much space, as before their ex­pansion: wherefore in the Generati­on of VVinds, he preferrs them be­fore Fumid Exhalations or Air; as in his Definition: pag. 153. Venti ni­hil sunt, nisi Moti & Dilatati Vapores.

It seems to me lesse probable (whether we reflect on the opi­nion of Aristotle, or Cartesius) that Winds should be always made up of Heterogeneous Exhalations distinct from the Body of the Air; For certainly, they are sometimes no more then Streams or Currents of [Page 9] Air it self, shifting from one part of the Atmosphere to another. So that the Air, while it continu'd placid and calme, may be com­par'd to a Pond or Lake; and when it's violently agitated and mov'd, it resembles a Torrent or River.

I have already declar'd, that no one Hypothesis, how comprehen­sive soever, hath yet been able to resolve all the Incident Phaenome­na: so various are their Efficients, and the Matter of which they con­sist. I shall therefore comprise the Locall Origines of VVind under 3 Generall Heads.

1. They are generated in the In­termediate space between the Earth and Clouds; and that either by Rare­faction, or Repletion; and sometimes happily by the Pressure of Clouds, Elasticall Vertue of the Air, &c.

[Page 10] 2 ^ly From the Earth, or Seas; as by Submarine or Subterraneall Erup­tions.

3 ^ly By Descension or Resilition, from the Middle Region; But I shall explain my self, how I desire to be understood of all these in the Fol­lowing Discourses; and then des­cend to the Matter of which they are Form'd, their Limits, and Qua­lities, &c.

My Lord Bacon complains, that the first species has been too much neglected by most writers; while some seek for them in the Clouds, and others in the Caverns of the Earth, when as they are more fre­quently generated in the Intermedi­ate Space, which they call the Low­er Region of the Atmosphere.

The Universall Efficient of this [Page 11] sort is the aliquando Sol ipse cau­sa est Venti, fundens ri­gentem Aerem, & ex den­so, Coactoque explicans. Sen. Nat. Q. lib. 5. cap. 5. Sun; the matter, Air, or whatever: Va­pourous Effluxions from the Earth.

Now imagine those Vapours, or Fumes, that are continually hove­ring in this Lower Region, (which being dilated, will possesse so ma­ny hundred times more space then they did before the expansion) to be attacq't by the quick and Penetrating beams of the Sun, what a tumult, and mutiny must this necessarily cause in the Atmos­phere? When all places were full before, at least the Voids no way Proportionable to the dilatation; whither must the ejected particles retire? the spaces they should pos­sesse, are overstock't already, they must be forc'd to send out Colonies [Page 12] to other parts; where equivalent compressions and condensations are made; where the spaces lye wast, and in a manner destitute of Inha­bitants: But what Seditions, Ed­dies, & Undulations must this cause in the whole body of the Air? How will the Atmosphere fluctuate, and be harrast to and fro, and (as it were) curled with waves? the Rari­fy'd vapours still flying to seek new habitations, and so doe impell, and bear along with them all they en­counter in the way; some condens'd bodys deserting their Seats, and o­thers as farr Expanded, hasting to take possession; that there can be no tranquillity, or rest, 'till the in­fluences of the Sun cease, or the vapours be exhausted: And what is all this Strugling and Com­motion of the Air, but Wind?

[Page 13] For either the Dilatation of the former, or too great an Accession of New matter, will inchoate the collaterall agitation of VVinds; as the Lord Verulam experimented from a crosse of Plumes, in a Tur­ret closely shut up; when meanes were us'd by the evaporation of wa­ter, to overstock the space; and af­terwards by Fire, to thinne & rarify the vapours; the Plumes began to tremble by degrees, and at last the motion grew rapid, Instar turbinis: the Water affording multitudes of vaporous steams, & the Fire re­solving them into VVind.

It likewise appear'd from ano­ther of the In turri undi (que) clausâ foculum cum prunis ig­nitis, in medio locavi­mus: post parvam mo­ram aucto calore, & Di­latato Aere, agitabatur crux plumea hinc inde, motu vario, &c. Verula­mian Experiments, that Air of it self, when other vapours are wanting, will be [Page 14] sufficiently Agitated by Rarefacti­on: For though without some other Auxiliary Exhalations, Air alone might seeme able to create but a very feoble and languid VVind; yet when it's dilated into at least 60 times the extent it pos­ses'd before the Expansion, it must needs by this means crow'd and superonerate the former Spaces, and so cause a considerable emotion of the Atmosphere; So that, if there be much Superfluous Matter, and the Protrusion violent, it causes storms and Tempestuous VVinds; if it be lesse, then are only Engen­dred those mild & refreshing Airs, such as use to come off from the Banks of Rivers and Ponds at Day-break.

De Cartes will scarce admit, that [Page 15] Dilated Air exceeds above a quadruple proportion; yet Mr. Boyl's Expe­riments concerning the Rarefaction of the Air. a person not lesse sagacious in the contemplation of Nature, has prov'd in a late discourse, that Air, without Heat, will be dilated to 13000 times the former extent, though with it Mersennus never arriv'd to an 100: And questi­onlesse in the Atmosphere, without the assistence of Art, we may sup­pose it Rarefiable by the Heat of the Sun, to incomparably larger Dimensions then De Cartes allows it; at least sufficient to create very impetuous VVinds, which may be occasion'd from any extraordinary expansion of the Air: as we usually observe, that in great conflagrations it blows manifestly fresher there­about, [Page 16] then it did before, & the peo­ple of Gascoigny (at that time sub­jects to the Crown of England) are said to have petition'd the King a­gainst the burning of Heath in Sus­sex, & Hampshire, which afterwards rais'd a VVind, very pernicious to their Vines.

Another cause which generates Wind, is the Superoneration of the Atmosphere. Democritus & other An­cient Atomists, supposing, if there were too many particles of matter crowded in little Space, they must necessarily justle, and arietate each other, thought VVinds to be no­thing else, but the Strugling or Agi­tation of Atoms: On the contrary, if there chance to be few Atoms in much space, so that there be no Pressure, or Coarctation in a free & [Page 17] spacious heaven, this (they say) begets tranquillity and a serene Temperature of the Heavens.

Lastly, beside this Superoneration, these Flatulent Emotions may pro­ceed from any other Cause which alters the Aequilibrium of the Atmos­phere; So that it will be sufficient to generate Winds, if the Air be only denser in one part then another, by the unequall distribution of vapours; Therefore we have common­ly a gentle Brise breathing off from Ponds or Lakes, where the Cold more especially condenses the Air, at least the Vapours arise in greater plenty from Humid Bodies. Thus we sometimes see a larger collecti­on of clouds in one Quarter, which being afterwards discharg'd in showrs, there oftentimes follows a wind from the immediate con­flux [Page] of the vapours to that place.

For the Currents of Air imitate the Motions of water, and by the just laws of Hydrostatiques, accor­ding to their respective gravity, mount higher or descend: so that there is a perpetuall inquietude, till it come to an exact Aequilibri­um; and what cause soever it be, which varys the Counterpoise of the Atmosphere, must needs occa­sion Winds.

The 2 ^d cause which produces these Intermediate Winds, is Compres­sion: when two, or more Clouds im­petuously pressing or falling upon each other, drive out a VVind from between them.

The Purest & most Aetheriall matter is not without some degree of Gravitation; though we want [Page 17] Instruments to make such nice dis­coverys in Nature: However, the Gosser Vapors, & Air which inhabite the Middle Region, gravi­tate more sensibly; of which wee can be able to give some Account by our Barometers: when the Quick silver rises higher, or subsides in the Tube.

VVinds may be thus generated from Pressure alone.

Suppose D. H. in the following Figure, to be the Incumbent Va­pors, or Clouds.

F the superficies of the Earth, Sea, or another subjacent Cloud.

G the Motion, or streame of Air, expeld from between them. If the Pressure be not directly downwards, but sloping, as from K to L; and there be resisted by [Page 18] some crosse winds, or denser Part of the Atmosphere: it often reverts to M, or O, and so generates Whirl­winds and Tornados. Sometimes you shall have a suddain Puffe of wind, driven from between two Clouds, with a violent Displosion of the Air; that descends almost Per­pendicularly to the Earth.

[Page]

[Page 20] Wee have a lively resemblance of this in Common Bellows; when the Sides closing compresse the inclu­ded Air; & force it to issue out im­petuously at the Nose, or Pipe.

I have oftentimes observ'd, that Stiffe Gusts of Wind happen im­mediately before Rain; because the Clouds being overcharg'd and teeming with showers, presse more then at other times; and when the Atmosphere begins to thicken, and grow Ponderous, over our heads; wee seldom fail of a VVind, some small distance from thence; which likewise ceases when the showre is fallen.

Moreover the Elasticity of the Air; which the Peripateticks make little regard of: And those Ingenious Moderns who have demonstrated [Page 21] it's Elasticall force, from many no­ble experiments; yet never ap­ply'd it Particularly to this Phaeno­menon of VVinds, though it prove oftentimes the most Immediate cause of their production. For the Air, whether from the gravity of Incumbent Vapors and Clouds, su­perfluity of matter, or however straiten'd, and oppres'd, do's as soon expand it self, (like a fleece of Wool after the compression) till it arrive at the former Dimensi­ons again; And being Dilated, Ex­plicated, and as it were Unbent, must needs agitate, and propell the con­tiguous bodys, that reduc'd it to such straits before: as we see the Elasticall power of it in VVindguns; how impatient it is of restraint, and willing to regain it's [Page 22] liberty, when the first opportunity is offer'd; How easily susceptible of the least impressions; as appears from the Propagation of Sounds; when the noise of Bells, or Canon is heard; that is to say, they shake the Air, for many miles in almost an imperceptible time: And the Elastical reciprocations of the Atmosphere (by whatever species of coarctation the Aerial spring is bent) though they are not obvious to our senses, yet are both conso­nant to reason, and agreable to the actings of Nature in such cases: And if this strugling or Emotion of the Air necessarily results from it's Elasticity, or Repletion; This mov'd or agitated Air, is Wind; Ventus enim est, ubi fit agitando percitus Aer, Lucret.

[Page 23] A 2 ^d Locall origine of winds in generall, is from the Earth or Seas: either by resolution of their Super­ficiall parts; or from Submarine, or Subterraneall eruptions. The Terrheinos, or Land Brises be­tween the Tropics, which last from the first approaches of Night, till Morning, consist for the most part of terrestrial Fumes, per­spiring from no greater depth, then the Solar rays did before penetrate: And those which alternately blow in the day time, are the Ofsprings of the Sea, when the Celestial warmth attenuates the liquid Sur­face into Winds. For Humid bodys are soon agitated, and Vola­tilis'd by heat; as might appeare from that Vulgar, but very con­siderable Experiment, of the Aeoli­pile; [Page 24] by which the strang Saga­city of Art do's so clearly interpret to us the operations of Nature; that wee may without difficulty conceive, the most forcible emoti­ons of Wind to be generated from the Rarefaction of water.

Suppose A, B, G, the Figure of the Vessell, which you may fill with water to H: then, setting it on the Fire, the water, when thoroughly heated, will be Rari­fy'd into Wind: and Issue out through the Neck K, with great violence.

[Page 25] Some have us'd them instead of Bellows, and contriv'd Pneumatiek Inventions of this Nature to blow the Fire: Others have made them large enough, to turn the Wheels of spits; For the force of the Wind will be greater, or lesse, Proportio­nably to the bigness of the Vessel.

Thus we may Imagine the At­mosphere to be as one Immense Aeo­lipile, continually dilating the Vapors, and Air; and the Sun likewise to exhale many flatulent steams, out of the Marshes, and Lakes, especially from the Sea, (which is the most Universall Pa­rent, not only of Fountains and Ri­vers, but Winds) And though the subtlety of Nature will still exceed the most Accurate Researches of Human wit, yet wee have little [Page 26] more to enquire concerning the Naturall; then may be advantage­ously Explicated from the Artifi­ciall Winds.

Nor doe they only exhale from the Superficies; but emerge some­times from the Gulfs of the Ocean, and Profoundest Caverns of the Earth. The Earth is the first Mo­ther of Meteors; and contains the Principles of them all in her Fruit­full Womb: In these Subterra­neall Kingdomes are the Spirits, Minerals, and juyces, that after­wards raise Storms by Sea; Winds, and Thunders, in the Air; and Earth­quakes under Ground: Those that have been conversant in Colepits, and Mines, will frequently predict Tempests, from their Damps; the burning blew of their candles; [Page 27] and other infallible signes. From hence these Subterraneall Storms break prison, to disturbe the peace of the Atmosphere, and raise muti­nyes, and commotions in the whole body of the Air. My Lord Bacon mentions a rocky, and Mountain­ous place in Wales, calld Aber Bar­ry, which had many Caverns, and recesses under ground; where is heard a continuall noise of Winds, that resound, and tumultuate with­in: And in another place of Den­bigh shire, there are so vehement eruptions of Wind, out of some ca­vityes, and spiracles of the Earth, that repell, cloths and other inject­ed bodyes, and for a great way to­gether dally, and play with them in the Air. But among innume­rable Examples, I could produce [Page 28] of this Nature, one out of the Phi­losophicall Transactions quadrates exactly to our purpose. Numb. 26. pag. 481. anno 1667. It was then given in to the Royall Society; as the result of twenty yeers experience, from a Person well vers'd in Mine­rall affaires. He affirm'd: If in digging under ground, the workmen meet with Water, they never want Air, or Wind: But if they misse it: they are destitute of convenient Air, either to breath in, or make their Can­dles burn: Sometimes there bappens to be a great quantity of Winters stand­ing Water in their Mines; but as soon as the levell is made, and any part of the Water begins to run away, the men must secure themselves as well as they can: For the included Air, or Wind breaks forth with vio­lence, [Page 29] to carry all before it.

They have Burning Mountains in China that are said to raise Tempests: The same Accounts wee have of the Grottos in Cala­bria, Sicily, and many places about the Alps. And I think it not lesse considerable, what the learned Mete­or. p. 67. Peter Gassendus assures us of a Mountaine in Provence, which had a Visto thorough it (like Pausilyponeer Naples) from whence a Nor­therly Wind on one side, and a Southerly on the other, have been observ'd to break forth at the same time. I have heard that in Corn­wall, they have so sure Prog­nosticks of Storms at Sea, from their Mines, that the Fish­ermen never Presume to tarry out, when the signal is given, by the [Page 30] Eruption of certain Meteors, which immediately Presage a Tempest. There are almost as many instan­of this kind, as wee find Cranies or receptacles of Air under ground: Questionlesse these Cavernous re­treats are very often the Locall ori­gin's of Wind (where the Poets faign the Kingdome of Aeolus) not Unphilosophically alluding to the mode of their Production. Winds that are generated in the Cloysters of the Earth are for the generality, made up of Waters dilated by the Subterraneall Fires: Kircher, a­mong many other Romantick Sug­gestions on this Argument, adds, that colliquated Snows, and Raine sinking into the ground, doe some­times expell, and force out the Winds and Air.

[Page 31] Yet not only Water, but most bodys will be mov'd, and Volati­lis'd by Heat: Especially the Ni­trosulphureous, and other Minerall or Metallic Concretes, that are ea­sily resolvible into Fumes; either by Rarefaction from some Inte­stine Vulcano; or by that glowing and Potentiall Heat, which is no where wanting in the bowels of the Earth.

If you mingle together Nitre, Sal Armoniac, crude Antimony; &c. and macerating them all in salt Water, set the vessel over the Fire: the Fumes will issue out much after the manner of our Aeo­lipiles: which shows what may be likewise effected, when the same causes concurre in the Subterraneall World.

Some also haue conjectur'd that [Page 32] Winds oftentimes break from un­der the Ocean: because the waves are observ'd to rise, and gently to curle, and furrow the Seas on that side, whence it is next to blow.

Or if the included spirit be in greater plenty; it sometimes dashes the waves against the rocks, with so great violence, that the noise may be heard in some places, no lesse then 8 or 10 leagues.

I am credibly inform'd, that in St. Owens Bay, belonging to the Isle of Jersey, the Sea is often strang­ly disturb'd before the Western storms, even when the Air is very calme: and though no Wind be stirring, yet the roaring of the waves may be heard, not only over the whole Isle, but into France, about 30 miles distance; which is the cer­tain [Page 33] Prognostique of an ensuing tempest. And those suddain tu­mors, which happen in the rivers of Garonne or Dourdongn, neer Bourde­aux, seem to be the effects of inte­stine winds, swelling them into ridges, & mountains of water, which they call Mascarets; & are so terri­ble to them that sayl in the river, that when they perceive them com­ing the people cry out; Garde le Mascaret, Garde le Mascaret: and then the watermen immediatly make to the shoare to save their lives; for it inevitably threatens the overturning their boats. It happens only in Summer and in the great­est tranquillity of the Air; but is often follow'd by wind. Some­thing like these Mascarets, though from a different cause, are the sud­dain [Page 34] turgences of the river Severn, which they call'd Higram. Scaliger in his Exercit. speaks of a Sea to­wards the Gulfe of Lions, which is frequently so raging, when there is no sensible Wind to irritate it; that the Adjacent Countrys might just­ly fear a deluge: the waves seeming to rise above the shoars. In like manner the Italian Benacus, or La­go de Garda, and more especially that neer Geneva, is oftentimes troubled in the calmest days: which is questionless nothing but an Inclu­ded Spirit or Wind: though the in­habitants ignorantly impute it to witch-craft.

This Sub-marine Tempest, is by some called Procella Caeca; and by the Portugals, La Manca; when they see it break out in a Cloud or Mist, from under the VVater.

[Page 35] I supersede many remarks from our Sea voyages; and some others out of Beregard, and Kircher, and shall instance only in two: The one recited by Fromundus, from the te­stimony of the Learned Fienus, who in a calme and serene day, diver­ting himself on the Belgique shoare, perceived a dense mist suddainly to rise from the Ocean, which though very inconsiderable in the begin­ing, he saw it encrease, and diffuse it self by degrees, till it covered the face of the Heaven, and ended in a most Dreadfull tempest at last: and what can be more Admirable in the whole history of Nature, then that so small a Vapo'r should fill the spacious Atmosphere, swell the Seas into Mountains, and mingle all things with horro'r and night?

[Page 36] The other is set down by Mr. Boyle, (to whom the learned world is so much obliged for his curiosity in all Naturall inquiries) and I shall insert it from the pen of the Honourable Author. Some years since, neer the strong fortress of Dun­cannon, where divers of the ships Roy­all of England lying at Anchor, in a place where they apprehended no dan­ger from the Wind: there seemed sud­dainly to ascend out of the water, not farr from them, a black Cloud, in shape and bigness not much unlike a barrell: which was, not long after, followed (as the most experienc'd Pilot foretold) by so hideous a storme, as forc'd those shipps to goe to Sea again; and had like to have cast them away: and this ac­count was written by the principall Of­ficers to their Superiors in England, [Page 37] &c. We can by no means distrust the matter of fact, which had al­most as many witnesses to confirme it, as there were men in the Na­vall Army: and we are sufficiently informed from this memorable e­vent, how farr the Sub marine e­ruptions may be concern'd in the production of stormy winds.

I proceed to the 3d Generall Cause which is their Descension or Repercussion from the middle Region of the Air.

This opinion seems most a justed to the vulgar hypothesis, though the Prince of the Schooles rather ascribes the oblique progression of Winds, to the Rapidity and Circum­gyration of the Heavenly Motions: which he expressely asserts in the second book of his Meteors. [...] [Page 38] [...], &c. That their mo­tion is impres'd from above, &c.

Yet Alexander Aphrod. urges a­gainst the sense of Aristotle, that upon this supposition, the whole current of Air would always be carried from East to VVest, by the diurnall revolution of the Pri­mum mobile; and so the VVinds could never chang to any other point of the Compass; with many in­supportable difficulties, which put the Moderns upon new methods of resolving the Phaenomenon.

The Peripatetiques, though by no encouragement from the Text of Aristotle, hold that the Repulse or Antiperistasis, which the hot and dry exhalations meet with by rancoun­tring the cold Clouds, causeth their resilition downwards, and impres­ses [Page 39] that oblique motion on the VVinds.

But the most learned of our pre­sent age have so little regard, for the doctrine of Antiperistasis, as it's usually maintain'd in the Schooles; that they endeavour to explicate this, and all other ap­pearances in Nature without it; and the Lord Verulam himself being averse to this Caprice of the Scho­lastic Doctors, declares the Reper­cussion of Winds, from the cold of the Middle Region, to be of all other the vainest and most Irratio­nall Hypothesis.

However I deny not but Winds are frequently generated in the 2 ^d Region of the Air, sometimes from vapor's before, and otherwhile after their coalition into Clouds: [Page 40] The Prognostics of these, is a trem­bling, and murmur of the woods; the shooting of Starrs; Halos about the Moon: All which indi­cate a repletion of the Atmosphere with exhalations, that afterwards descend and are converted into Wind: yet the cause of their re­lapse to the Earth, is, no repercussi­on from that Imaginary Antiperista­sis, but the Ingenit gravity of the vapors themselvs; at least the pres­sure and detrusion of the superin­cumbent Air; which I suppose to ly in severall fleeces, or storys one above another, and presse down the inferior; that when the VVinds chance to gravitate comparatively more then the vapors neer the sur­face of the Earth, they, to preserve the just Counterpoise of the Atmos­phere, [Page 41] must necessarily descend of their own accord.

The gravity of Air (especially Wind which is a body farre more Heterogeneous and impure) can be no paradox to the learned of our times; since the many noble dis­quisitions about the pressure and weight of the Atmosphere, made by Mr. Boyl, and other curious Persons.

Our Sea-men commonly ob­serve it to blow from that quarter, where they see one or more Clouds gather above the Horizon: Either that they presse more then at other times, or because the matter of which they consist is afterwards dissolvible into VVinds.

Those Clouds, from the rupture and dissolution of which wee are to expect suddain gusts, hang more [Page 42] loose and floating, being commonly of a brighter colour, and neither so dense or opacous as the other which are pregnant with showres.

It appears from the precedent discourses, that VVinds do not on­ly emerge from the Aeolian Caues; but have a much sublimer origine in the Kingdom of Meteors, being generated both in the Lower and Middle Regions; at least consist of the gross Air, and vapors, that are driven from thence: and though af­ter their relapse to the earth, they are indifferently dispos'd to what ever species of Agitation, yet gene­rally they begin their march to­wards that quarter, whither the most Violent Impulse is made; at least where they find the medium more yeilding, and fittest to propa­gate [Page 43] their motions. As sometimes the Atmosphere is thinnest towards the South, which begets a North-Wind: other while in the West, and then the protrusion is likewise made Westward: Or if the whole current bend with too great violence to­wards one point; it oftentimes re­coyls back again, and begets a quite contrary Wind to the former. Thus wee often observe, that when one Wind ceases, the Opposite begins; & the Atmosphere, which in many things bears a great resemblance to liquids, has these kind of fluxes & re­fluxes like the Rivers and Seas: For Air is a body so fluid, and tracta­ble, so easily susceptible of them, and long retentive of the least im­pressions; that if it once be set a going, it as a kind of perpetuall Au­tomat, [Page 44] continues the motion, is drawn into consort with the vapors, and it selfe converted into VVind. If we make a further enquiry into the cause of their motions, we shall find they proceed likewise accor­ding to the disposition of the Ali­ment; and those which have no du­rable Fonds, dwindle away and are soon exhausted in their course: sometimes they condense into Clouds; and otherwhile, being too much attenuated and refind, they vanish and dissipate in the Air.

Those VVinds which are nee­rest their Locall Origines, blow har­dest: especially such as are rein­forc't by other auxiliary Vapors as they passe. Acosta observed they were always most turbulent neer the shoars and promontories of the [Page 45] Indies: because the flatulent steams were then more impetuous neer their rise; which afterwards became languishing, and broken by a long passage in the Ocean. So that there are severall accidents which may occasion the greater rage and impetuosity of VVinds; As first, the Plenty of Matter which constitutes them: secondly, the Rari­ty of the Medium that affords no con­siderable obstacles to stop their ca­reer. Orlastly, because the Protrusion of the Air is more forcible & stron­ger then at other times.

Thus farre wee have employ'd our thoughts concerning their first Fountains, or Locall Origin's in Generall.

The Formall Cause, or essentiall Attribute of Winds is their Trans­verse [Page 46] Motion: For Air is no lon­ger Wind, then it's Agitated and Mov'd: and therefore Homer was not so good a Philosopher as some of his Scholiasts would make us believe, who shut them up in Ulys­ses his bottle.

The Causes of their oblique Progression has so farre engag'd the most Philosophicall Genius'es of former times; that Bodinus at length, not knowing what to deter­mine among such Variety of opi­nions, ascribes it to the Energy of Angels: And the College of Conimbra to the Immediate influx [Page 47] of the Divine Power. Kepler will needs have the Earth Animated, and to breath out Winds from the Sub­terraneall Caverns, as from it's Nostrils or Mouth.

Theophrastus [in his book which he Entitles: [...]:] Phancy'd the Winds to be partly of an Igneous Nature still aspiring upwards: and partly made up of Terrestriall Ex­halations which endeavour to Des­cend; that by this means they were forc'd to direct their Course Obliquely, between two Contrary Motions: VVhich seems to me lesse Plausible then the Doctrine of Aristotle; though I think it would be equally difficult to explain how the rapid gyration of the Celestiall bodys, could create those violent impressions on the Air, & VVinds, [Page 48] at that immense distance from the Earth.

It would be tedious to recite the dissents of the Greek interpreters with the Latines; how many nau­seating, and frivolous contests arose upon this Argument between Theo­phrastus, Aphrodisaeus, & the School of Alexandria: and in the more flouri­shing raign of Peripatetisme, how strangely did Albertus Magnus, Tho­mas Aquinas, Cajetan, and Contare­nus, with many others of the Sera­phic and Angelicall Doctors, torture their wits, either to find out some new Salvo for the Hypothesis of Aristotle, or invent a worse of their own. Bonaventure writ a whole book, wherein he treats of little else beside the severall opinions concerning the Transverse motion [Page 49] of Wind. And we must needs e­steeme it a great effect of their lei­sure, who have employd so much time in such empty and jejune speculations.

Yet not only the Peripatetiques have fail'd in their attempts: but we have as little satisfaction from Epicurus, or the severe Porch: & may as justly question whether the The­ories which shall be started hereaf­ter, must hope for any better suc­cesse. Yet I think wee may thus farr rationally conclude, that as the causes of Winds are various, so the reason of their Transverse Moti­ons is not always one and the same.

I have frequently observed that not only the North, but most other Winds, seem many times rather some­what to descend, then blow in an ex­act [Page 50] Perpendicular line to the Horizon: yet wee must acknowledge, that even those which relapse from the Middle Region, or are generated by the Rarefaction of Vapors in the Intermediate space between the Earth and Clouds, have for the most part an oblique or Semicircular Mo­tion; for though their Ingenit weight would rather Praecipitate them to the Earth: yet they are either born up and repel'd by the continuall Effluxions of ascending Steams; or at least can descend no lower then where they come to the just counterpoise of the Air. So that if the Flatulent Vapors have gravi­ty enough (especially after they are Condens'd in the Colder Region) to invite them Downward, and yet the resistence of the Atmosphere suf­ficient [Page 51] in a great measure to check and retard their descent; this must necessarily divert them from their Precipice, inclining them ra­ther to a mixt and Collaterall Motion. For though Winds are generally heavyer then the Air below, yet they are supported in it, during their Career; till by degrees fal­ling downwards to the Earth, they at length cease, or languish in their Course.

Wee must note likewise, that the whole body of the Air, settles about the Earth in a sphericall Fi­gure; so that the protrusion is made from all parts to the Center; that the Winds, being resisted by the Pressure of the Atmosphere a­bove, and the Earth or Sea below, move, as in a Channell, between [Page 52] both, wherefore they soare high­est in a Serene Skye, when the de­pression of the Air, and Winds is much lesse then in Cloudy wea­ther. And the reason why they blow Obliquely (or which is all one) perpendicularly to the Horizon, is not to be suppos'd, because the Vapors are naturally determin'd to any such particular species of Agitation; but that, being dilated by the Sun, they require a larger space, and find the Medium most dispos'd to admit of their Motions in that manner.

Lastly those VVinds which e­merge from the Caverns under Ground, may sometimes have that Tranverse Motion impres'd on them from their Fountains, at the time of their Eruption. For those Vo­latile [Page 53] spirits or Salts, being once mov'd in the Hollows of the Earth, by the Subterraneall warmth, are still roving up and down, and restlesse, till they get vent; and af­ter their release protrude the Con­tiguous Air, and propagate the same kind of Agitation in what­ever bodys occurre in the way: and then all Auxiliary Vapors will be sure to have Immediate recourse whither the strongest current bends.

But beside these Primitive and Originall, there are other Secundary causes and Affections of VVinds: as, their Undulation; Repercussion from Promontorys; Opposition, &c.

VVee have thus farre enquir'd into the Progressive; but the Undula­ting Motions are no lesse considera­ble [Page 54] in VVinds: for they blow not in one constant fluor, or streame, but in gusts, that have their starts and intervals, intermitting like our pulse; which is call'd the Undula­tion of VVind or Air, from the re­semblance it bears to the wavings and fluctuation of VVaters.

Some of them are Indigenae, or Na­tives, and others Adventitious to the places where they blow: yet the question still recurrs; for those which are Externs, and either come from beyond Sea, or rove from farre countrys, have the same Lo­call Origine with the rest, though remoter from our observation.

The motions of VVinds, as in­deed all other bodys whatever, are propagated in right lines; if nothing intervene to check and retard [Page 55] their course: but usually so many impediments occurre, that are able to make resistence in the way, that they seldome proceed in one uninterrupted Perpendicular from their fountains: Especially in mou­tanous places, Forrests, and other Eminencys, and inequalitys of Ground, but they are repuls'd and recoyl back again, and being some­times imprison'd in the straits or Creeks of promontorys, they are tost and banded to and fro like Tennis balls, till they find their passage out: so that after severall diversions it may happen at last, that a VVind may bee distracted to a quite different point of the com­passe: and otherwhile so far be­freinded by the advantageous situa­tions of the places where they blow, [Page 56] that they run streaming between two Mountains, as in a Channell or trough; and are guarded on all sides from the inroads of other Exo­tique VVinds and Air. Upon this account its no very unusuall thing to have one VVind blow on the Top of a Mountain, and a quite con­trary in the Vally below. In the main Sea they keep the same quarter a long time, when nothing occurrs that can controle them: but neer mountainous Islands, or shoares, they whiffle up and down, and shift from one point of the Compasse to another, by severall repercus­sions from the promontorys or hills; and these our Seamen call Eddy Winds: For as Water once dismis'd from the Fountains head, is not only tinctur'd with the qua­lities [Page 57] it receiv'd from thence, but must afterwards conform to the course of the Channell or banks through which it glides: so the VVinds (which are Torrents, or Ri­vulets of Air) have their Maeanders and deflections in their Journy, and are in a great measure obnoxious to the situation of the Country's in which they blow: They also meet with frequent opposition, from the repletion of the Atmosphere with multitudes of fresh Exhalations, that check, and crosse them in their way; but especially by their Rancounters with Contrary Winds; which must necessarily Engage, and strive for mastery, till one over­comes: So that from two contra­ry VVinds, there sometimes re­sults a Third compounded of both [Page 58] Extremes; and otherwhile if they meet in the Eye of each other from Diametrically opposite points of the Compasse, they ballance one ano­ther; and there ensues a calme.

The Matter of Winds accord­ing to Aristotle, is, [...]: [A Dry and Fumid Exhala­tion] wee have his Sentiments more particularly in the second book of Meteors: [...]. On which Text the succeed­ing Peripatetics seem to ground their Doctrine, that neverthelesse may admit of a farre greater Lati­tude then the Modern Schooles al­low: For he never altogether exclu­ded moist Bodys [...], &c. as is expressy declar'd in the same Chapter: though the De­grees of Siccity were always to be [Page 59] most Prevalent [ [...]] &c.

I acknowledge that Winds may sometimes consist of Hot & dry Exha­lations; but the Humid & Aqueous are much better adjusted to the design. For this reason, rain is the usuall Prognostick of Winds, because the plenty of moisture, then floating up­on the superficies of the Earth, is afterwards dilated and put in mo­tion by the heat of the Sun: as Lucretius instances in wet clothes, and Aristotle in moist wood, that emit greater quantityes of steams, and wreke more then Dry: for al­though the Fumid and Terrene concretions, especially those Earths and Salts in the Caverns and spira­cles under Ground, being Agita­ted by the Subterraneall fires, re­quire a farre intenser heat to resolve [Page 60] them into Winds being of much more tenacious figures then Water, and other liquids, which hang loose­ly together, and are sooner expand­ed into larger dimensions. VVhere­fore the definition of Metrodorus in Plutarch seems to excell; That VVind is: [...]. Aquosi anhelitus aestus. And though Aristotle declares, they confist of Hot & dry exhalations, at least, the Earthy parts to be always most predominant; yet, by travelling or'e lakes or snowy Mountains, he allows they may be­come moist or cold; & wee find that almost any stirring, or Ventilation of the Air do's refrigerate.

Neither did the Stagirite him­self so strictly confine his Hypothesis to the Hot and terrestriall Exhala­tions; For in the 2d booke of his Me­teors [Page 61] he acknowledges the Etesians to be generated from the colliqua­tion of ice, & snow in the Polar re­gions. [...], &c. Quibus à sole col­liquatis flare soliti sunt. But why should I longer dispute their mate­rials and propertys? Winds are hot, dry, cold, have the greatest diversitys of qualitys, & accidents: They may consist of almost infinite variety of salts, spirits, juyces, and minerals, Subterraneous damps, agitated Air, dissolv'd Snows, broken and dissipated Clouds, rarify'd vapors, and what not? For most bodys being sufficiently dilated, and put in motion are convertible into Wind.

Next, as to their Limits and Sea­sons: Some spread many thousand leagues, and others not above 2 or [Page 62] 3 miles from their Fountains; I call That the Country, or Fountain of VVind, where are those Caverns, or other Locall Origin's which gave them birth.

Wee cannot easily determine of their Altitude: My Lord Bacon delivers his sense, that they not only aspire to the Confines of the Middle Region, but soar above the general­lity of Clouds; as wee oftentimes observe the Clouds move, & a gen­tle breath fanning the top branches of trees, and yet not the least Brise of Wind stirring neer the surface of the Earth: which shows, they sometimes prevayle most in the Lower, and otherwhile in the remoter stations of the Air, and so according­ly mount higher or descend, as they happen to be more or lesse [Page 63] depres'd by the Gravity of the At­mosphere.

Varenius perceiv'd the smoake is­suing from the top of mount Aetna, to be Agitated and tost up and down, as from the tunnells of chim­nys; which, though it lifts up its snowy head into the Second Region, yet it is not altogether exempt from the incursions of Winds. However, Acosta travelling o're the Peruvian hils, discover'd no violent motion of the Air; but rather an Aether so sub­tilis'd, and ignite, that it caus'd heavings & convulsions in animals, so that they were forc't to thicken it with spunges, to prevent imme­diate suffocation. In like manner the highest eminency or peak of Tena­riffe, is always at peace, nor expos'd to those storms which sometimes [Page 64] infest the lower parts or neck of the Mountain.

The Alps, and Pyreneans, or whatever hils beside that are co­ver'd with perennial snows, are also lyable to VVinds from their resolution in the Summer; but the Peruvian, and some others which may be reckon'd as the Extravagan­cys of Nature, that threaten the sky, and overlook the Clouds with their prodigious height, are, I sup­pose, never disturb'd by tempests; though I question whether any of our European world can pretend to this priviledge, yet the Grecian historians, who took all opportuni­tys to advance the miracles of their country, relate of the Macedonian Athos; That it was Customary when they sacrific'd on the top of [Page 65] of the mountain, to inscribe their names in the ashes, and the chara­cters are said to have remain'd all the yeer round, without being in the least defac'd by the VVinds.

The Spring and Autumn, especi­ally about the time of either Aequi­nox, are the most Flatulent sea­sons of the yeere.

It's observable, the complexion of the Air is generally more silent at Midday, and in Soultry Wea­ther; when the Exhalations are too much attenuated to constitute Winds, which require a very con­siderable density and refrigeration: For this reason the South Winds u­sually blow in the Night, the Air being over much refin'd in that quar­ter by the heat of the Day, till it condense again by the moderate cold of the night. [Page 66] The Spring is generally more Win­dy then the Violent heats of Summer; both from the liquefaction of snows; and because the pores of the Earth are then loosen'd, and the Vaporous effluxions releast from their former imprisonment, during the Frost: and therefore those VVinters which have least frost, and the Va­pors suffer'd freely to transpire, are expos'd to the most boystrous Winds: as for example the last in the yeere 1670.

Likewise in Autumn wee have commonly very blustring wea­ther; most about the other Aequi­nox, when the Sun principally dilat­ing the Air between the Tropiques, causes a more violent protrusion towards the Poles of the VVorld. Shall wee say that the luxuriant [Page 67] Rains which fall at that time of the yeare, affor'd more plentifull ma­terials for VVind? Or is it by reason the reservs of the Summer Vapors are condens'd by the Au­tumnall cold, when the heat of the Summer too much refines, and dissipates the exhalations, & the in­clemency of the Winter rather thickens them into Snow or Clouds. So that a just and mode­rate condensation is necessary to the constitution of VVinds: if it be too much, they degenerate into rain, &c. if too little, they become Stagnant Air.

But, from their Limits and Sea­sons, I descend to the more remark­able Species: As the Generall or Tropicall VVind; the Provinciall; the Land and Sea Brises; the seve­rall [Page 68] sorts of Etesians and Monsoons in the Indian Seas, &c. and shall from thence proceed to their Qualitys, and Prognostiques.

The Generall or Trade VVind, continues all the yeare round with little variation. It is likewise call'd the Tropicall, Levantine, and Uni­versall Brise: because it blows con­stantly from the Eastern Points: and makes no farre excursions be­yond the Tropiques; commonly meeting our ships about the 30, 34, and in Summer oftentimes beyond the 36, degree of N. Latitude: al­ways proportionably to the decli­nation of the Sun.

On this side the line they sit most at N. East; and on the other, at South East, or the points between the South and East. Now what [Page 69] Universall cause can afford such immense magasins of vapors? where can be the Locall origines of these perenniall VVinds which imitate the circulation of the Heavens? Or hap­pily the disciples of Copernicus will conclude that they depend on the diurnall motion of the Earth; which passing from East to West, in the space of 24 houres, may by that violent rotation seduce with it the adja­cent Air in one constant fluor or streame; For wee observe that the Winds in some Seas change with the currents or tydes; and if so small a force can vary the motions of the Air; how much more may wee expect from the rapid circumgyra­tion of the whole Terraqueous globe? De Cartes, speaking of these Levant Winds in his discourse of Meteors, says, Commode ratio de­duci [Page 70] nequeat, nisi Universi fabrica si­mul explicetur. This opinion, I confesse, is wholly built on the Copernican Hypothesis; yet if the Heavens move, and the Earth stand still, according to the Vulgar and more receiv'd system of the world, wee may render a no lesse rationall account of the Phaenomenon from other solid grounds.

For, supposing the heat to be farre more intense to exhale and sollicit vapors, between the Tro­piques, when the Sun is Verticall, and the rays fall at right angles to the Earth: This must needs set vast multitudes of vapors a-float, both from Sea and Land, which may be sufficient to furnish mate­rials for the Generall Wind: but then an objection may as easily bee [Page 71] started, why these Vapors, or Winds, still keep in the road of the Sun? why should they not some­times slant aside, and make their de­flexions towards the Poles? I an­swer; the resistence of the Atmos­phere is greater; being remoter from the middle of the world, and the immediate jurisdiction of the Sun beams, that the winds are as it were wall'd in on both sides, by the grosser vapors beyond the Tro­piques; and so forced to attend on the solar motions, where the channell is open, and the Air more yielding and refin'd by the continuall heat.

Nay, even in our Seas, when no other Winds are stirring, you may often perceive a small Air still ac­companying the course of the Sun; and it's remarquable in dead calms [Page 72] that both the Fanes of ships, & wea­thercocks by land generally hang Westward. This may receive some Elucidation from a very obvious experiment of an iron bullet, hea­ted, and drawn over the surface of water, that presently invites the the ambient Air to follow the same course, as wee may discover by a feather, or other versatil body sus­pended above the VVater; that will have an immediate tendency the same way, where the medium being attenuated by the heated iron becomes more pervions and rare: which methinks may be of some validity to explicate why these Universall Winds have that con­stant complyance and uniformity with the course of the Sun. They are likewise accompany'd with a [Page 73] perpetuall motion of the Seas, from East to VVest: for the Cur­rents of Air and water are insepa­rable companions, both in the South seas, the Pacifique, and Indian Ocean. And as the tydes are driven from the shoars, and returne in a thousand Eddys, and tortuous Meanders from the land; In like manner the VVinds, though they chance to be frequently repuls't by the promontorys, and higher Is­lands, that like shoars impede the Atmosphericall currents, yet gene­rally between the Tropiques the mo­tions of the Seas and VVinds make their perennial progresse the same way. Some are pleas'd to think, that the Sun in their Zenith do's so farre excavate and absorbe the parts of the subjacent Ocean [Page 74] that the waters immediately follow, as in a channell, from East to West: But Vossiius [De Motu Maris & Vent.] on the contrary, do's as ea­gerly contend, that the Celestial beams doe, by dilating the waters, rather cause a greater turgency and protuberance on their superficies; which therefore subside towards the Occident, where the passage is more declive, till it be likewise elat­ed by the approach of the Sun: From the same principles he en­deavours the solution of the Univer­sall Winds, that the Air rises high­est where the Solar rays fall at more direct angles; and then, like the Seas, begin their course West­ward: of which he assigns no other cause then as before: Quia lege natu­rae, ab altioribus ad decliviora fit [Page 75] motus: quod enim Aequor, id ipsum pa­titur Aer huic incumbens. So per­fectly Analogous are the motions of Air to those of Water: that the Winds are almost Universally go­vern'd by the Hydrostatique Laws.

However, I shall no longer pro­pose my conjecturall thoughts con­cerning the cause of this abstruse Phaenomenon: but chuse rather to entertain the Curious, with some nicer observations, which have been made both by the English and Dutch, that by this means, though I dare not boast the invention of New Hypotheses, yet I may be able to cast in my mite towards the perfecting an history of nature.

I was lately enquiring of a very skilfull navigator, what variations he observ'd of the Trade Winds in [Page 76] his voyages to the West Indies. Who readily complying with my desires sent me this following account.

‘The Trade Winds have their Variations as well as others, though not so much: For be­twixt the Tropiques, where wee are at the greatest certainty, they differ two or three points.’

‘Their most certain points are the N E. by N. and N E. by E. I have observ'd both outward, and homeward bound, that as wee came Northerly, so wee had the more Easterly Winds in the same Latitude: As for example, outward bound, in the Latitudes of 20, 21, 22, and 23, neere the Tropique of Cancer, and in the Longitudes of 52. 53. and 54. be­ginning the said Longitude at the [Page 77] Meridian of London; I say, there wee found the Winds at E. N. E. and E. by N. and E. and some­times E. and by S. and E. S. E. so likewise homeward bound, sayling along the North side of Cu­ba, in the same Latitudes above mention'd, neere the Tropique, wee found the Winds upon the same points, as a foresaid, though there were 35 degrees of Longitude dif­ference: but after wee have pas­sed these Latitudes, and sayling neere the line, wee shall then find the Trade Winds to incline more towards the N. E. as is above de­clared.’

But what I could not so particu­larly collect from many reviews of our Seamens Journals, I find an Inquisitive Person has observ'd in [Page 78] two severall Voyages to the East Indies. ‘That from 34 degrees of N. Lat. towards the coast of A­fric, or about the Meridian of the Canaries; the Winds seldome vary above two points from the North East; and so last to the 7 or 8: though sometimes the Tornado VVinds have been met with from the 12 ^th of N. Lat. and generally continue till within 4 de­grees of the line. More­over P. Trans. Vol. 2. from the African shoare, 100 or 200 leagues West; the foremention'd North-East Wind commonly inclines to the East; and 20 degrees off from the meri­dian of the Azores, will be most at East North-East: and as the VVinds neer the Continent of Europe are commonly between [Page 79] East and North, so at the meridian of the hithermost Azores, they hang between South-West, and North-West.’

‘The S. East Winds begin to take place between the Aequator, and the Tropique of Capricorn: and the nearer you are to the Coast of Afric, they are the more Souther­ly: and as you approach to the Coast of Brasile, it inclines more and more to the East. And there is not only variation in respect of the Longitude, but likewise of the Latitude: So that neere the Ae­quator the VVind is more towards the South, then it is in the same Meridian neer the Tropique of Ca­pricorn, where it it is constantly between S. E. by E. and S. E. by S.’

From hence wee may under­stand [Page 80] what variations happen to the Generall Winds in respect to the degrees of Longitude: and for their Latitude, or distance from the Aequator, it's for the most part go­vern'd by the course of the Sun: which being Excentrical from the Earth, as it approaches, or devi­ates more or lesse from one Tropique to another; so it alternately cau­ses the same declinations in the Universall Winds: when it deflects towards the Northern signs, they likewise bend the same way: If the Sun be just about the Aequi­noctiall, they have the same Winds and tydes in the Pacifique, and so from Peru to the Moluccas: when it's in the Summer Solstice, the Trade Wind reaches to at least the 36 ^th degree of Boreal Latitude; and [Page 81] being in Capricorn, it not only de­clines to almost the 40 degree of S. Lat. but obliges them that navi­gate in the Northern Hemisphere, to fetch their VVind much neerer the line. The same detrusion of the Seas and VVinds happens, not on­ly in the Ocean between Africk and the West Indies; but in the South seas towards the Philippine Islands. For from March to Octo­ber, they hang towards the North; and from October to March, they re­vert with the Sun towards the Southern parts of the world. Yet there may some accidents inter­vene, that frequently impede the course of the tydes, and Universal VVinds: as the Situations of pro­montorys, or shoars, especially about the Coast of Guiny, and o­other [Page 82] parts of Africk: but in the In­dian seas subjacent to the Torrid Zone, from the 10, or 11 degrees of S. Lat. to the 28, there are con­stantly the same motions of the Tydes and VVinds, till the Sun retiring towards the Tropique of Cancer, draws the Winds 10, or 11 degrees more North, nay some­times almost to the Aequinoctial line: but as it describes a contrary Arch towards the South, they in like manner make their excursions to about the 30 degree of South La­titude.

The Adjacent Mountains that guard them from the East, likewise divert the Levants from the Coasts of Guiny: which occasions such tedious Calms towards the Aequi­noctiall, that some ships have wayt­ted [Page 83] severall months, for a VVind before they could set sayl from their Port. So Angola, Congo, and many other Countrys along the Aethiopique Ocean, from the line to neer the Tropique of Capricorne; as Cape Negro, Carinba, &c. are shel­terd from the Generall Brise: As likewise Peru, and some other We­stern parts of America, which have vast ridges of Hills that run for many thousand leagues from North to South, dividing Guiana and Bra­sile from Peru and the Kingdome of Chili.

I shall only add, that the Levants blow much stronger by day then night, (as is well known to all Mariners who have sail'd between the Tropiques) which shows that they rather depend on the Sun then [Page 84] the motion of the Earth, or Primum Mobile.

These are the most Generall observations: but, as I before sug­gested, the Trade VVinds loose much of their soveraignty neare the shoars, and are frequently impe­ded by the intervention of Islands, and Crosse Winds: and sometimes the Promontorys and Land Brises repell them from their Coasts: yet these, or whatever extraneous ac­cidents, can never alter the peren­nial motion, but it still recovers a­gain: & blowing from Africk to the American continent, and so through the South seas towards the East Indies, & from thence makes as it were a complete Tour round the world.

The Ocean between Jemiac and [Page 85] Carthagene is oftentimes very tem­pestuous: but neerer inclining to either shoars the fury of the Trade Winds is much abated, and for 20 leagues in length, at a place call'd the Keys of Cuba, it's interrupted by a Westerly Wind that blows all the yeare round. So that it prevayles most in the Pacifique and other Spacious seas; where it runs streaming without impediment along the liquid Plaines; that from New Spain to the Philippine Islands, they steer the same course, for 60 days together, and from the Cape of good Hope to St. Helens, it likewise constantly swells their sayles with one secure and equall gale.

Wee might likewise venture at a better account, then has hitherto been given, why the Western Wind [Page 86] blows most commonly on this side the Tropiques; for the whole cur­rent of Air being carry'd from East to West, it recoyls back again; and by reason of this repercussion, from about 30 degrees Latitude where the Trade VVind ceases, the We­stern begins. Here in England, the Eastern usually govern the spring, and wee have sometimes variable VVinds, but generally the Western ingrosse the greatest part of the yeare, which indeed are no more then the Tropicall VVind at re­bound: for not being able to return back against the stream (the Trade VVinds still raigning in the Torrid Zone) it must needs bee diverted toward the Poles, and sometimes produces the West, and otherwhile the Laterals, North and South West, [Page 87] as the Angles are more direct or acute in their reflexion.

Thus, from the same Latitude where the Trade Wind ends, there usually begins a motion contrary to the course of the Sun, by which wee sail from West to East, and so much the more or lesse, as it de­flects towards either of the Poles. wherefore those who navigate from the Moluccas to the Western parts of America, being never able to hold on their course in the middle, and beare up against the Generall VVind, fetch a compasse beyond the Tropiques, sometimes to 36, and otherwhile to 40; as the course of the Sun, and consequently the Winds and Tydes, incline more or lesse towards the North or South. And so those that sail from Barha­dos [Page 88] St. Domingo, or Jamaica, are forc'd to steer their course towards the Gulf of Florida, to the 36, and in Summer sometimes beyond the 40 degree of N. Latitude; where they meet with the Reverse, or Western Winds to conduct them into Eu­rope. The same likewise happens in the voyage from Brasile to An­gola: if the Sun illustrates the Southern world, it extrudes the Ge­nerall VVind to at least the 36 de­gree of S. Latitude; where after­wards they meet with perpetuall Currents and Winds from the West: but in the other part of the yeare, when the Trade VVind makes a lesser Arch towards their Hemisphere, it will be sufficient if you take a compasse to the 25, or 26 degrees of Latitude.

[Page 89] So not only the Tropicall Brise, but the VVestern (which are kind of perennial or Stationary VVinds without the Tropiques) ob­serve their just distance from the Aequinoctiall, always proportiona­ble to the course of the Sun: and if this were better understood by some of our less curious naviga­tors, they would find the motions of the Trade Winds, though it meets them in severall Latitudes, sometimes neerer, & otherwhile re­moter from the line, not so Fortuitous as they commonly imagine: & some more accurate observations of this nature, would not only instruct them, where to expect the Trade VVind in their voyages to the New World, but how farre they should make a circuit without the Tropicks, [Page 90] to fetch their Western VVinds, when they are Homeward bound.

The Generall or Trade Winds are diffus'd though the Universe, and have vast Territorys, and do­minions, but others are confin'd to as narrow a compasse; which they call the Regionary and Provinciall, because they wander not farre from their Native Fountains, and termi­minate in those Regions which gave them birth. Gassendus men­tions one in Provence that blows constantly from the Gass. Mete­or. cap. 1. same point, and seldome makes any excursions above two miles.

* Seneca says, these are observ'd Nulla regio quae non habet aliquem ventum intra se cadentem, & circa se nascentam. Lib. 5. N. Q. cap. 17. in all Countrys & climes. And whence can they proceed but from [Page 91] the Salts, juices, and Earths there about that afford them mate­rials? or from the Adjacent moun­tains, and Caverns, which are (as it were) the Country and Royalty of those Winds; so that they neither sally farre abroad themselves, nor suffer Forreigners to invade their Destricts. For though by reason of the situation of the places, or the Paucity of the exhalation, they make no long Journys from home; yet having Indefectible and Peren­niall Fountains, they never cease blowing within their own jurisdi­ction.

I might reckon among the Pro­vinciall Winds, those on the shoars of Peru and Chile, which blow per­petually from the South: that in their voyage from Lima to Pana­ma [Page 92] they quickly run it up before the Wind, but in their returne back again, they are forc'd to steere a different course, which requires many days.

We have in the next place, a fit opportunity to make a more accu­rate research into all sorts of Brises. The Brises are those VVinds which blow alternately both from Sea and Land, in the space of 24 houres.

The Viracoins or Sea Brises rule by day, and those that come off from shoare which the Portugals call Terreinhos, or Vento di Terra, are, as it were, the Sentinels of the night; so that dividing their Empire be­tween Sea and Land; they are con­stant as the seasons of the year, or course of the Sun; on which they seem wholly to depend. Yet I de­ny [Page 93] not, but they come sooner or later, in some places then others, and vary the Alternative, according to the severall latitudes, and other externall events in the regions where they happen.

De Cartes and Du Hamel agree in the same opinion; where, offering at the cause why some VVinds blow off from Sea in the day time, and from Land by night; the former gives this account. So­lem De Cartes p. 159. dum splendet plures, vapo­res e mari, quàm terra attollere: at con­tra, cum sol recessit, calorem relictum plures è terra, quàm è mari, elevare. And Du Hamel comments thus on the same opinion in his treatise of Meteors. Haec enim calorem pertinacius retinet quàm aqua; unde terra etiam noctu vapores ventis pro­creandis [Page 94] suppeditat: as if the day Brises were generated from the Sea vapors during the presence of the Sun; and the Night Winds from the heat which he leaves behind him in the Earth. For though liquids reake more in the Day time, and emit greater numbers of vaporous steams; yet Solid bodys, such as the Earth, being once thoroughly heated, retain the warmth longer, by reason the density and close con­texture of their parts, for some time, hinders the exilition of the fie­ry particles. So that after Sun­setting, the Terrestriall fumes may still afford matter for the Night Brises.

Yet the learned De Motu Maris & Vent. Is. Vossius regretting the ill successe of all former Hypotheses, [Page 95] & particularly that of Cartesius, fol­low'd by Du Hamel, endeavours to prove the origine of most, and even those that are commonly reputed Land Winds, to proceed from the Sea, which he admits not only to be sooner susceptible of any Calorifi­que impressions, but longer reten­tive of them, then the Earth. For the Divers find by experience, that the profoundest Seas are in hot Days warme to the bottome, though not equally with their sur­face; when the Land is scarce ever heated above 2 or 3 foot by the Sun. Wee may suppose with this Inquisitive Gentleman, that the motion of the Air is generally con­sectaneous to the Seas; and both of them Elated by Rarefaction: So that the heat raising them high­er, [Page 96] the Winds and tydes accom­pany each other to the shoars; yet in the night time, being depriv'd of the Celestiall beams, they subside; and observing the equall libration of the Air, revert back again to their former stations; whence may be generated those which wee call Terrestriall Winds: Sole occaso subsidere utrumque humorem, & Aerem denuo ad locum suum refluere. Cap. 24.

In some Countrys the Sea-brises are no more then Efforts of the Generall or Trade VVind; as at Madagascar, St. Helens, Barbados, and others of the Caribbe-Islands, together with many places between Tropiques, when the Universall VVind reaches their Coasts: which, if it bee not impeded by [Page 97] tains, or Islands, blows fresh in the day time, but after Sun-setting, the Terrestriall exhalations, that hap­pily were too much attenuated by the heat of the Day, condense again by the nocturnall cold, And setling about the Promonto­rys and hills, they are at length pre­cipitated by their innate gravity, and beget a Wind towards all quarters at once; which is not on­ly able to make head against the Trade Wind, but to repulse it from their coasts. As the Jamaica Bri­ses come from all parts of the Is­sland at the same time, that no ship can enter the Harbour by Night, nor depart after the Sea Brise be­gins.

Lastly may not all sorts of Bri­ses, bee chiefely caus'd by the mu­tuall [Page 98] Rarefaction and condensation of the Air; and those which in the Day time make to land (where the medium is most yielding and thinnest, because fewer vapors as­cend from thence) in the night, are repercus'd back again to Sea; and so, as it were, Ebbe and flow by turns, that these Atmosphericall tydes are no lesse constant, then the fluxes and refluxes of the Ocean. I have often suspected, that all these species of Winds arise from the difference between the density of the Land and Sea Air: For Air, if it chance to be much compres'd in one place, more then another, the naturall Elasticity thereof endea­vours a restitution, and oftentimes repells it back again with extreme violence: so that almost any unequall [Page 99] density of the Atmosphere may occasion Winds. But whatever be the particular mode of their genera­tion, they seeme to be universally govern'd by the motion of the sun. When first he salutes our Horizon, they begin insensibly to fanne, and agitate the Air, blowing fresher by degrees, as the Celestiall heat pre­vayles, and are highest at 12 of the clock; and so continue till 2 or 3, and then slacken, and (as it were) decline with the Sun. The Brises in the Levant cease all the winter, when the Sun is banisht into the Southern Tropique; and returne again in the spring when he likewise re­verts towards the Northerne signs: beside, they often intermit in the Summer, when the Levant Winds blow through the Mediterranean; [Page 100] and it would questionlesse prove ve­ry obliging to the learned world, to make a complete collection of such observations, as might any way contribute to a more perfect histo­ry of Brises. For example, first how they differ according to the severall Latitudes and meridians, 2 ^ly whe­ther they are perenniall, as between the Tropiques, or last only the Sum­mer Months, as most in the tempe­rate Zones: 3 ^ly what obstructions they meet with from the Universall Brise, or other crosse VVinds. And Lastly the nature of the shoars, Currents, and hills where they hap­pen. In the foremention'd Isle of Jamaica the Land Winds depend so much on the situation of the mountain, that they reach to all parts at an equall distance from [Page 101] thence: and therefore an ingeni­ous person has observ'd in his voyage to the Caribbes Is­laid Philos. Transact., that at Port-morant on the Easterly side of the Country there is little land Brise, because the mountain is more remote from thence, so that the exhalation spends it self in the way.

In these parts of the West Indies, the Sea Winds are coolest, and most refreshing, which the people receive with their windows open, the fronts of their houses being ge­nerally built on purpose for their reception; and they find them­selves no lesse quickend by the plea­surable gale, which is as great a Luxury to those Regions, as ba­thing with us; and so cherishing to the inhabitants, that sick persons, [Page 102] if they can possibly creep out of their Hammocks or beds, neglect not this opportunity of reviving their spirits. In so much that wee may judge concerning the salubri­ty of many African and American climats, from the nature of the Bri­ses; for those which want the gen­tle salutes of the Sea Wind, are scarce inhabitable by the excesse of heat. In the mean time, though I despaire of reconciling the various Hypotheses to which the Phaenomena may referre; I shall set down cer­tain Historicall remarques taken from our Journals, & voyages into the Levant, Guiny, the East, and West Indies; and may hereafter promise a fuller account of all o­ther parts, wherever the English ships have spread their Triumphant [Page 103] streamers in the Old or New world.

In the first place wee must note, that the Terreinhos, and Brises of all sorts succeed a calme; wherein happily the matter of which they consist, forms it selfe.

They come in the day time from the Seaward; yet not always from one poinr of the compasse, but severall, as the land lyes. On the coast of Carthagene from the East; on the Island of Trinidad, and so likewise at Guiana in America, from the North; At Jamaica South upon one side of the Island, and North upon the other.

In Guiny (and from 6. degrees of N. Latitude to the Aequinoctiall,) the Sea Brises arrive at S. S. W. to the S. W. Their beginning is at 9, [Page 104] or 10 of the clock in the morning, and they continue till 10, 11, or 12, at night, blowing a fresh gale, which extremely cherishes the Natives & white men.

At 10, 11, or 12, at night they cease; giving place to the Land Winds, which continue till morn­ing, from the North to the N. W. points. This I was inform'd by a skillfull Master of a ship, who had made severall voyages to Guiny; whom I shall have occasion to mention more particularly here­after.

On the coasts of Malabar (if wee may rely upon Linschoten, and Varenius (who pretends in such ca­ses to have diligently consulted the Sea mens journalls) from Septem­ber to Aprill, which is the time of [Page 105] their Summer, the Easterly Winds blow off the land, about 12 at night, & continue till 12 at noone, reaching 10 miles into the Ocean; Then the VVestern make to shoar, as it were the former reflected back again; the Vapors and clouds being al­ternately resolv'd into VVinds, by the rising, and setting Sun.

In Brasile, Madagascar, and ma­ny of the Caribbe-Islands, they have no Land Brise, especially if the shoars lye low, as at Barbados, where the Generall or Levant. Wind blows from one end of the Isle to the other; and servs instead of the Viracoins or Sea-brise. Here (as I was inform'd by one of the chiefe Plan­ters, who liv'd severall years upon the place) it begins to rise about 7, or 8 in the morning, rising higher [Page 106] with the Sun till 12, when it blows with a very strong Gale; and so lasts at the same height till towards 3 in the afternoon, and then slack­ens at Sun setting. As the Trade VVind generally blows fresher by day then night.

On the Coasts of Madagascar and Brasile, they have the aforesaid Generall or Trade VVinds, all the yeare round, from 9 in the morning till 3 in the afternoon. It would be further enquir'd into, whether there be any Terreinhos, but from high lands: for at Barbados they have rarely any Land Brise, the Le­vants being sole Monarchs of the Is­land: but at Jamaica, which lyes not above 4 or 5 degrees from thence, and within the Tropiques, they have also the Land Winds con­stantly [Page 107] every Night, which drive a way the Levants from their shoars.

In other Places they want the Sea-Brise: and for the most part, where the Ocean lyes VVesterly between the Tropiques: as the We­stern Kingdomes of Afric; Gualata, Hoden, about Cape Verde, and the river Niger, Malaguta, Congo: so in America on the Coasts of New Spain, Chiapa, Hondura, &c. where the Trade VVind raigns perpetu­ally, and suffers not the Sea-Brise to approach their Coasts. But where ever long ridges of Moun­tains guard them from the East, as in part of Guiny, Angola, and so on the Western Countrys of Peru; they have the refreshing Brises from the Ocean, which renders them fruit­full and pleasant.

[Page 108] I made no further enquiry of our Sea men concerning the Brises of the East Indies, finding them al­ready set down by Hughen Van Lin­schoten in his Instuction, for Cap. 18. lib. 3. the Navigation of the Indies.

‘The Land Winds blowing into the Sea, last from Midnight; and the Viracoius (which arrive at the West and sometimes N. W. throughout all India) from noon till 12 at night: and coming out of the Sea towards the Land, are therefore call'd Viracoins, or Sea Winds: They often stay late, and blow but slowly.’

Nearer the Coasts of China, you have the Terreinhos out of the West, and N. W. S. E. and E. N. E. Be­ing in the North they change to the South, and then ensues Cap. 24. lib. 3. [Page 109] a calme, till the Terreinhos come in.

The Brises in the Straights begin about 9, or 10 in the Morn­ing, blowing freshest at noon, and so gradually declining till 4 or 5, at last cease in a Calme: which lasts till 10, 11, or 12, at night: VVhen begins the Land Brise till 5 or 6; and then Calme, till the Sea Brise comes in. This account I receiv'd from a Sea Captain well vers'd in all parts of the Levant: having serv'd under the Venetians severall years in those Seas.

At the river of Constantinople the VVinds commonly blow tho­rough; but in exceeding fair VVea­ther you shall have both the Land and Sea Brises, as in the Straights.

If either the Easterly, or VVesterly [Page 110] VVinds, blow fresh, they hinder both the Land and Sea Brises in the Mediterranean; of which wee must note: They are always the more languid, and weaker, the la­ter they come in.

In very hot days, and when no other VVinds are stirring, you may sometimes observe this alternation between the Land and Sea Brises on the Coasts of England: but scarce with any certainty beyond the Latitude of Portugal.

Brises of all sorts are more con­stant in Summer, then Winter; and be­tween the Tropiques, then in the Tempe­rate Zones.

The Etesians or Anniversary VVinds are those which blow con­stantly at certain seasons of the yeare. The most remarkable spe­cies [Page 111] begin in Summer about the rise of the Dog starre; and last 40 days, being preceded by their Pro­dromi, or Fore-runners 8, or 10 days.

The account of Pliny is not much different from Aristotle; as he computes their Etesians, in the 2 ^d book of his Naturall History.

Not only the Stagirite and Theo­phrastus, but of late De Cartes and many other Moderns derive their Origine from the colliquated snows and ice, in the Northerly regions. For the long continuance of the Sun, neer 6 months together above their Horizon, at last overcomes the obstinacy of the cold, and dissolves the snows; which being attenuated into VVinds, make long marches towards the South, where they find the Air more yielding and pure, [Page 112] then the Foggs, and grosse vapors of the North.

They were call'd the Sleepy VVinds: Venti Delicati, & Somni­culares; by reason they intermit in the night time, and rise again with the Sun: happily because the va­pors were then only sufficiently di­lated by the celestiall beams, though in the night time they sub­side, and hover neare the Earth; be­ing too refrigerate and dense to con­stitute VVinds, till they are again quicken'd, & put in motion by the approaches of the Sun.

I am willing to acquiesce in the aforesaid cause; and I believe wee in England or France, might owe our Etesians to Groenland, and other parts of the Frozen Zones, because wee have no constant visi­ble [Page 113] Fountains of any such VVinds in our own dominions: but if the Etesians of Greece, according to the sentiments of Aristotle, doe allways depend on the resolution of snows in the North, they would certainly take Russia, Poland, or Germany, in the way, which lye neerer the Artick Pole, before they arrive at Greece: and yet on the other side of the Taurican hills, they are said to have Southerly VVinds about the time of the Graecian Etesians. VVee may better make judgement of these Winds, that, being most Pe­culiar to this Country, they were no Forreigners in their Originall, but sprung from particular Fountains within it selfe; such as the hills of Macedon and Thrace, that have perennial Snows of their own, and [Page 114] these being master'd by the scorch­ing heats of Summer, may give birth to their Etesian Winds: which has this advantage over the other opinion, that it clears the difficulty, why they are silent in the night, and blow with fresher Gusts at Midday, when the Sun mounts highest in the Northern Hemisphere. I shall only adde, not to mention severall others of the modern Na­turallists, that even * Cabeus him­selfe, who was a person sufficiently Zealous in assert­ing Meteor. pag. 202. the Peripatetique Hypothesis, dis­sents from the opinion of Aristotle, & will scarce allow the Etesians of Greece, a remoter Origine then the neighboring Alps.

I shall not insist upon the mistake, for which some of his [Page 115] own interpreters have severely e­nough reflected upon Aristotle: That he should first deduce the Origine of these VVinds from the Frozen Zones, and afterward assign the reason why they blow stronger in the Day time; because the lique­faction of the Snows is interrupted by the Nocturnall Cold; when it's Notorious, that in those Coun­trys, the Sun for many Months to­gether, is never depres'd below their Horizon.

Towards the Adriatique, and many parts of Asia, they have Set Winds which arrive from the N. and N. E. Yet all these, which were reputed the Venti Stati, blow not from the Northerly Points; for in Gascony, about the same time with the Etesians of Greece, they have [Page 116] rather Southerly Winds; which Scaliger (who was best able to judge of his own Country) ob­serves to be unwholesome and Pestilentiall.

At Madrid for the most part of the Summer they have a Brise from the Pyreneans, or the Adja­cent Guadarama, which extremely allays the excesse of heat.

You shall have different sorts of Winds from the same Snowy mountain, blowing to severall quar­ters, according to the situation of the Countrys: As was observ'd in those Countrys by the forementi­on'd Cabeus: Saepe nobis Boreas, & Borealibus Auster Spirat: It being not unusuall for them in Lombardy to feel a Northerly, and at Tirol, which is situate on the contrary [Page 117] side of the Alps, a Southerly Wind, at the same time.

In Italy they can never fail of Ete­sians from their own Appennines; and so happily on the shoare of Gu­zarat, and the Indian Ocean, from mount Caucasus: And where ever great Chains or ridges of Hills run along, as the Caucasean or Appen­nine, this very often renders an ac­count of most Etesians there about: Yet I question whether many Au­thors may not ascribe too much to this one cause: for in some places they have Anniversary Winds, that can never possibly have their rise from the Resolution of Snows. And, I believe, it would prove extremely difficult, to lay down any tolerable Hypothesis, of the Monsoons on the Coasts of Afric, and India, from [Page 118] the best discoverys wee have yet been able to make of those Parts.

There are other Stated or Anni­versary Winds, which they call'd [...] & [...], Avicular and White-South Winds: either because they were so friendly to the procreation of birds; or rather, that they return'd with Nightingales or Swallows in the spring: beginning to blow af­ter the Summer Solstice, by the computation of Aristotle, 70 days, about the beginning of March.

But no longer to dispute the certainty of those observations, which were made by the Greeks, and afterwards transmitted from them to the Romans; who were by farre lesse sagacious in the Stu­dies of Nature: I have here in En­gland for some years past, kept by [Page 119] me an exact table, or Ephemeris both of the Vernall, and Summer Etesi­ans; but found the VVinds no lesse Variable in those Months, then at other Seasons.

The Monsons are Anniversary Winds in the Indian & African Seas, call'd by the Dutch Moussons [i. e. Motions] and by our English Sea-Captains vulgarly Monsons. They blow Easterly one half of the yeare; & the other part, from the contrary points. They were unknown to the Ancient world who wanting the use of the Compasse, made no long voyages by Sea; but the industrious moderns have taught us new Theorys of Nature: they have taken as larg a circuit as the Sun, and their am­bition has known no other bounds [Page 120] but those of the Ocean. Heretofore wee had no commerce with the East Indies, but by way of the Le­vant, the merchandise being brought from the Red Sea to Aleppo, and other parts of Syria, and so trans­ported through the Mediterranean; till about the yeare 1500 the Portugues found out the Passage by the Cape of Good Hope. Yet in their first attempts they either hap­pend to be there at the breaking up of the Monsons, or other crosse sea­sons, that scarce one ship in twen­ty arriv'd safe at Goa: but of late yeares very few of our East India Fleets miscarry; since the Currents and Monsons have been better un­derstood by our Pilots and Masters of ships.

I have diligently compar'd the [Page 121] accounts wee have from Kircher, Ricciol, and Furnier, of the Anniver­sary Winds in the Indian seas, with the English Journals; and find those authors generally false: Nay even Varenius himself, who was more conversant with Sea-faring men, is no lesse erroneous then the rest. But to omit nothing which may satisfy the curious in these enquirys; I shall insert a relation of the Monsons communicated to me from Captain George Swanly, an experienc'd Cap­tain, after diverse voyages he had made to the Orientall Indies; which I have set down in his own words.

‘The Munsons or Monsoons are Winds which raign 5 Months of the yeare on one side of the Com­passe, and 5 others on the Opposite. There are two months in which [Page 122] they change, that have variable VVinds; (viz.) most part of March and September.’

‘From September, on the North side of the Aequator, to the Tropique of Cancer and there about, in the In­dian Seas, they blow from the N. E. and according to course of the Months, they veere more Northerly.’

‘At Surat, Malabar, Pegu, and that Coast of India, is the fair sea­son till March: All which time 'tis the fowl season with the same VVinds on the other side, at Coro­mandel, Patane, towards China, and Japan: and all the said time, from September till March, on the South of the Aequinoctiall, the Winds are on the N. W. quarter of the Compasse with rain; which there is the Fowl-weather-Monsoon.’

‘ [Page 123] From March to September, the VVinds are, to Northwards of the Aequator, Westerly, or at the S. W. points, with rains, at Surat, Malabar and Pegu; at which time it is fair on the Coasts of Coromandel, Patane, towards China, and in the way to Japan; and then in the Tropique of Capricorn the Winds are at S. E. and that quarter; which are in those Parts the dry Monsoons.’

‘Yet neare all Lands between the Tropiques on the Eastward of Cape Bon Esperance in the fowl sea­sons there doe happen some fair in­tervalls; yet in the dry Months, sel­dome any rains interrupt the con­stant serenity of the Air.’

‘The Fair Monsoons are the VVinds blowing partly off the shoars, and contrariwise the Mon­soons [Page 124] blowing on the shoars, are the fowl and rainy seasons.’

Yet still happily I shall leave the reader in suspence, whether Riccio­lus, and other learned men, or the reports of our Seamen, are most to be credited; But I shall not scru­ple to decide it for the latter; who beside their yearly Traffique into those parts, are oblig'd to a ve­ry perfect understanding of the Monsons; since the mistaking of very few days may sometimes ha­zard the losse of their voyage for that whole yeare. VVhen as the Jesuites, for the most part, tran­scribe one from another, without strictly enquiring into the truth of what they write; and Kircher (who of all others is the greatest Rhap­sodist of Falsitys, though he contain [Page 125] some rich Oare among much drosse) pretends to have had no other information of these particu­lars, then what he collected from the English, and Dutch Journalls; which I doubt, he never had opportunitys suffi­ciently Mund. Subterr. Lib. 4. to examine, or compare.

When one Motion ceases, the other does not immediately begin; but there are sometimes longer, and otherwhile shorter Intervalls be­tween them: In which, are vari­able Winds, and Calms that pre­sage dangerous Tempests: for the Opposite Winds, before one resigns to another, must needs, by their strugling, cause strange disorders in the Atmosphere. Wherefore of all seasons in the yeare, our Masters of ships ever avoid the Seas at the [Page 126] changing or breaking up of the Monsons. It's observable, the Easterly Winds change, sometimes first into Nor­therly, and other times towards the Southerly points; which may hap­pen, from the impressions that the changing of the Currents make on the Air, and that on the Exhala­tions and Winds.

These in the Indian Seas are farre more certain then other Anni­versary Winds; yet by reason of various Accidents, they come la­ter in, and otherwhile continue lon­ger, some years then others.

They are chiefly regulated by the Heavenly Motions; changing for the most part under such a Pha­sis of the moon; and are so farre de­dependant on the Sun, that Sir Thomas Herbert in his Travells gives [Page 127] this account of them.

The Monsoons are Anniversary Winds, which blow constantly one way for so many months; beginning exact­ly, from the Suns entrance into a sign of the Zodiack; and the other halfe yeare, the contrary way, or till the Sun enter into the Opposite degree: which if Seamen neglect, they goe near to loose their Passage into India.

Their Principall Efficient is the Sun: and though it will be diffi­cult to explain the particular Mode, yet both the Currents and VVinds are most certainly influ­enc'd by that Soveraign Planet: which alternately resolves the Snows, and bringing Summer with it to either Tropique, attenuates the Clouds and Stagnant Air, which condens'd in the VVinter. [Page 128] By this means, passing from one Hemisphere to another, and Survey­ing the Elementary World, all­ways finds or Provides materialls for the Anniversary finds; which occasions the Monsoons to blow with little variation, at the same seasons of the yeare; especially in the Indian Ocean, where the Cur­rents are more constant, and fewer inequalitys, then in narrower Seas, where they never keepe the same quarter long, but are repercus'd from the Promontorys, and come down in Changeable Puffs, and Eddys of VVind; as both Drake and Candish found in the straights of Magellan; which renders the Pas­sage so very difficult into the South Seas. But were the whole Sublu­nary Globe of the same equall and [Page 129] uniforme superficies, wee should have VVinds in most places no lesse constant then the Monsoons, and as regularly govern'd by the course of the Sun. It will be no hard matter to explicate the cause of the Easterly Monsoons; this be­ing the perpetuall course of the Trade-wind all the year round be­tween the Tropiques: But that they afterward revert to the VVest, may possibly be occasion'd from the great Magazine of vapors lodgd about the Island of Madagascar, and the Coasts thereabout; which are reflected from thence by the Ad­vent of the Sun into the Tro­pique of Capricorne: for VVinds are both the result of rarefaction and condensation also; and the rari­fy'd vapors not only cause a more [Page 130] vehement Protrusion of the Air after their dilatation; but being over much compress'd in one quarter, as often by the Elasticall power thereof, beget a Reverse VVind in retiring to their former places: So that there can scarce be a moments rest in the Universe, the Atmosphere being as one continued scene of Action and Passion, that I believe the Air even in the calmest days is al­most every where Agitated, at least by some insensible Wind. But thus farre of their distinct Species, and particularly of the Monsoons.

In relation to their Qualities: I before rejected the Hot and Dry Exhalations, as too narrow, and in­sufficient to resolve the innumera­ble Phaenomena of VVinds; for they consist no lesse of Omnigenous Va­pors, [Page 131] Salts and Mineralls, with other different species of matter; and we must expect their Qualities to be Various, as they have greater or lesse Allays of such Bodys.

Some of them are Corrosive, o­thers Suffocating and Pestilentiall; they are sometimes Hot, and then Cold from the same Quarter, and so successively capable of all Quali­ties and Extremes, according to the Diversity of their Constituent parts, or Mediums in which they blow. This might appear from many ob­vious Experiments: Let them pass thorough a Tunnell or Pipe of a convenient length, but much wider at one end then the other, that it may give free admission to the Air: in the cavity of which strew seve­rall sorts of Aromatics and odo­rous [Page 132] herbs, such as Thyme, Ro­ses, Violets, &c. then let it be stuck in the wall of some house ex­pos'd to the open fields, with the larger end obverted to the VVinds, and the lesser so plac'd to conveigh them into the house, (somewhat after the manner of the Italian Ven­tiducts) and you shall have the whole roome perfumed with a pleasant, and agreable smell: but instead of these, if you put in herbs or mineralls, with Virulent, & Delete­rious Qualities; you shall have some complaining of their heads; others seas'd with Lipothymies, and inclin'd to sleepe, when the stupe­factive fumes enter together with the VVinds, and surprise the Spi­rits. The same we may conclude of all such whose component par­ticles [Page 133] are either noxious in them­selves, or make their entry through unwholesome places, which are stord with Antimony, Mercury, or other Putrid and Arsenicall va­pors.

I made diverse tryalls of this nature, instead of common Water: I fill'd the Aeolipile with water distill'd from roses, which genera­ted VVinds with a very gratefull Perfume; afterwards, I experi­mented the same with severall sorts of liquids; I likewise cast in Cam­phire, and then small shavings of Juniper Wood, into the Aeolipile, that sent out flatulent steams ac­cording to the nature of the bodys injected: which makes it evident that the Qualitys of VVinds are oftentimes deriv'd from their Con­stituent [Page 134] particles. But as to the Medium through which they passe; I judg'd the use of the Aeolipile by no means suitable to my design in discovering their degrees of heat or cold; the Winds generated therein being actually hot before: so I caus'd to be made a Tinne pipe about 4 foot long, which I fitted to the nose of a pair of bellows, and covering it with a mixture of snow and ice; perceiv'd the. VVind which pass'd through the pipe to be very excessively cold: but be­cause our Organs are not all ways equally dispos'd, nor indeed are they sufficient Criteria, to be re­ly'd on in such nice cases, I there­fore made use of an Hermetically-Seal'd VVeather-glasse; and blow­ing thereon, found a very visible [Page 135] alteration in the liquor of the Wea­ther-glasse, which being ventilated from the same bellows wrought no such effect, before the Frigorific mixture was apply'd. I afterward heated the Pipe in the Fire, through which the Winds should passe, and there came forth an exceeding Hot blast. So farre upon all accounts may the Disposition of the Medium influence the Transient Winds.

If wee further enquire upon what account Winds thus farre sympathize with their Mediums: wee must acknowledge it to be no dreame of the Epicureans, that con­tinuall effluviums doe issue from all materiall concretes; And the Winds not only bear off with them those particles which are already [Page 136] disengag'd from their textures, but help to loosen others; that ther's scarce any Body so solid, which pays them not some tribute as they passe. Those which have made no farre excursions from their Fountains, cannot be much adulte­rated in the way, and so preserve their first Qualitys entire: But the Travelling Winds, that arrive from remote Countrys, and drive before them different species of Air, and mingle with other Heterogeneous exhalations in their passage, they are at last quite overcome by them; and so farre influenc'd by their long entercourse with the medium, that they almost Universally borrow their Temperament and Propertys from thence. The Winds in Italy which blow over the groves of Myrtle doe often perfume the Air [Page 137] for many miles; and in those Coun­trys where the Rosemary grows wild in the fields, the smell thereof has been carry'd a considerable di­stance from their Coasts. The Le­vants are accounted Soultry and troublesome in Spain; yet on the shoars of Murcia, where they come off the Mediterranean, they are a­greable and pleasant. The Tra­montanas at Rome are often more piercing then the sharpest North Winds, either in England or France; because they blow from the Snowy mountains. And I might instance in a remarque out of Captain James. The Southerly Wind was then coldest: the reason I conceive to be, for that it did blow off the Main Land, which was all cover'd with Snow, and the N. Winds came out of the Bay which was hitherto open. [Page 138] I conclude, that VVinds have more frequently their Qualitys, from the Places or Mediums through which they passe, (or at least from the Fountains that gave them birth) then from the Quarters which are reputed Hot or Cold, or otherwise qualify'd for producing such Winds.

As in Holland, and the lower parts of Germany, they have very often colder weather with the Mid­land VVinds, though from the South, then with the N. or N. E. which passe over the Sea, and mingle with the tepid vapors of the Ocean. The Southern Blasts to us here in England are accounted nox­ious and Pestilentiall; but to certain African Provinces, health­full and Pleasant. The Northerly [Page 139] are coldest in our European World, and the Southerly on the other side of the Aequinoctiall. For the Arc­tick and Antarctick VVinds must needs be of the same nature, blow­ing from either of the Poles, where the cold is equally predominant. So that the Qualitys of many VVinds seeme not so much to res­pect the Points of the compasse, as the Course of the Sun.

The Eastern Winds according to Aristotle are hot and dry: nor is their Siccity only remarkable in Greece, Palestine, Asia the Lesse, and most parts of Africk, where they make long marches over the parcht and barren sands; but likewise in the more temperate climes of Hol­land and France; by reason they passe through Poland, Germany, & [Page 140] other vast tracts of Land; and lastly arriving at our Isle, they can suffer no considerable alteration in their qualitys, by so small a passage over the Narrow Seas.

They are no very welcome guests to us in England, being omi­nous to our Gardens & Fields, by blasting the corn and fruits. I have known strange destruction done in one Night, when they come late in the spring. Sometimes they not only blite the leaves and blos­soms, but kill the Trees with their poysonous breath. They bring after them swarms of Caterpil­lers, and other devouring in­sects; or those dry and tabid mists, which corrupt the lungs, and cause Epilepsys, Consumptions, &c. whe­ther by driving before them the pu­trid [Page 141] Air from Holland, or however they contract that malignity in their natures. Nevertheless wee can make no Generall conclusions of their propertys from hence, which are chang'd by innumerable acidents. For though in these Countrys of Great Britain, they are inauspicious both to animals and plants: yet in the West Indies, the Eastern Brise is refreshing, and healthfull above all other VVinds. In Arabia and those Asiatique regions they are exceedingly dry, by travel­ling for many thousand leagues over the sandy desarts; yet Blon­dus observes them to be rather hu­mid in Italy, and to occasion a re­lenting in the Air, where they blow immediately from the Adriatique Seas.

[Page 142] In relation to their degrees of heat, though Aristotle declares they are much hotter then the Wester­ly, wee find by experience that with us in England, the Easterly are at certain Seasons of the yeare ex­ceeding cold, and very often the most freesing winds, especially if they hang somewhat towards the North.

I need assign no other cause, for the frigidity of the Easterly Winds, then that they have their first rise from the Continent, where the Midland Air is much colder then the Maritime.

The South Winds are generally reputed Hot and Moist, on this side the Line, being heated in their entry through the Torrid Zone; or because they consist not of melted [Page 143] Snows, as the Northern, but of the Tepid and Sulphury steams from Africk, and other Sunburn'd climes.

They passe over no Seas of any large extent, just crossing the Medi­terranean, and British, yet they moisten and relax the Air, and cause wet weather by dissolving the Clouds into rain, which are ra­ther dissipated and blown over by the impetuous Norths.

Yet I think it very irrationall to conclude that all the Southerly, should have their rise from the Tor­rid; or the Northerly VVinds, from the Frigid Zones. Since it is not unknown to the Curious that in part of Italy and Provence, they have very often Northerly VVinds (rising as is suppos'd from some [Page 144] places about the Alps) whereof they are not at all sensible in other Countrys of France, through which they must of necessity passe, if they came so farre North. In like man­ner at Marseilles, and in the Me­diterranean, they have oftentimes Southerly VVinds; when they blow from contrary points on the Afri­can Continent, which lyes more to the South.

I believe very few of the South Winds here in England ever took a longer flight then from the Mediterranean Sea, or the lower parts of France; and it can scarce be suppos'd that the same Numeri­call Exhalations could ever travell from between the Tropiques, and not be spent in the way, long er'e they arrive at the British Coasts; [Page 145] yet happily by protruding the Am­bient Air, and that successively the Contiguous to it; the motion may at length be Propagated many hun­dreds of Miles beyond the reach of those vapors which caus'd the first Agitation. So that it is not impossi­ble, but that a VVind which began neer the Aequinoctiall, may by this means, be continued, even to the Poles of the VVorld. However I shall make no longer digressions concerning their Extent, but pro­ceed to the Qualitys which are vulgarly ascrib'd to the Southerly VVinds.

They are laxative, stupefactive, and pestilentiall; They cause Epi­lepsies and pains in the head, and were therefore styld [...], by the Grecians: They render men Shaa­grin [Page 146] and melancholy, and in some of the Azores Islands, the children are said to sit dejected and leave their playing when they blow. For first they open the pores of our bodys by their heat, and then insi­nuate the malignant influences; and the parts being pointed and volatile have not only an easy ingression into our blood, but thaw and unloose the textures of ice and snow: Nay it's most certain, that iron it selfe takes the file much better, when the South Wind blows, then at other times.

They many times cause a farre rougher Sea then the most Tempe­stuous Winds from the North, Hap­pily because they blow more obli­quely, and rake the Surface of the Water; when as the Northerly often­times [Page 147] descend, as from a precipice downwards, which immediately deads and weakens their force.

They magnify visible objects: As our Seamen observe their ships to appeare bigger at a distance, ei­ther in misty weather, or when the South Wind blows. For the hu­mid and nebulous vapors of which they consist, distort the visual beams, and by refracting them to the Perpendicular, cause more rays of light to enter into the eye (which makes the object seeme larger) then otherwise would arrive at it in strait lines.

Many who are naturally inclin'd to Stammering in their speech, do find their infirmity evidently worse, when the Wind is toward the South: Probably because the moi­sture [Page 148] of the Air, causeth a greater relaxation of the Nervs, and thereby a tremulous and unstable motion of the muscles, at that time. Which perhaps hath more power upon the Vocall muscles, then others, because they lye in the Road, and are more expos'd to the invasi­ons of whatever is breath'd in at the mouth or nostrills, then others are. Whence also wee find the tongue more apt to falter (though some­what in a different manner) when­soever it is overmuch bedew'd with strong and vaporous liquors.

Smells are said to be most Fra­grant in these Winds, when the Air is humid and lax to convey the odoriferous particles. They an­ticipate the Spring; and cause the trees to blossome, and bud forth be­fore [Page 149] their time; and by this means exhaust their spirits and nutritive juyce. They damp linnen and paper, though never so carefully guarded from the Air, cause flesh to rot, and upon all accounts hasten putrefaction in bodys.

The Western have been Counted the mildest, & most Auspicious of all others; and were so highly in favour with the Poets, that they thought them worthy of the Gol­den Age, and to refresh the Elysian groves. They are indeed cherish­ing to Animals, they cause fertility in the Earth, and paint the flowry meades with all the verdant beau­tys of the spring. But though the Breathing Zephyrs are so much ce­lebrated in Poems and Romances, and happily were kinder to the deli­cious [Page 150] Countrys of Italy, & Greece, yet wee find no lesse malignity in their natures from particular acci­dents and climats, then what wee have observ'd of other Winds.

In the Isle of Jersy (as I was late­ly inform'd by an ingenious Gen­tleman of that place) they Taint and Blast all the plants and trees, except the white poplar (which flourishes best in those Winds) and suffer nothing to grow a good di­stance from the Western shoare: when the Midland of the Country, and all other parts, even to the Brink of the Ocean, is very fruitfull and universally planted. They have an observation there; when it rises on a suddain instorms, it conti­nu's for 9 days or thereabout.

They blow in this Isle the great­est [Page 151] part of the year, but chiefly about the Aequinoxes; and parti­cularly in Autumn, when they are very boystrous, having nothing to checque their rage between that and America: and these they call the Michaelmas storms. Beside what is said of this Island, the same effects are known in Normandy, and many parts of our British Coasts, especially towards Cornwal and the Lands End; but they render the Norman shoare inhabitable by rea­son of the sand they blow over it: where are few or no Trees to be seen neer the Sea, and those very shrubs. When they take a point of the North, they are worst, but not long lasting.

The greatest VVinds which have been known of late years, were [Page 152] either Westerly or from the Collate­rall points between the West and North. One about the Death of Oliver Cromwell: And another fa­mous for demolishing so many houses and buildings which in di­verse places it levell'd to the ground. It did considerable Damage to most of the Colleges in Oxon: blew down two and twenty Elms in the Grove of Trin. Coll. and se­verall of the strongest Fabricks in England Scap't not without some marks of it's violence. For many of those houses, which either by their strength or situation, were able to resist it's furious assaults, lost their roofs, or had their chim­nys and barns blown down. But that which makes it still memora­ble in most parts of the Kingdome, [Page 153] was the great numbers of Trees, and sturdy Oaks that fell in this Tempest. You might see the Spoiles of the Villages and woods all the Country round. An event, scarce to be paralleld in the former Age; and which would require a large History to transmit all the particulars thereof to posterity.

The Westerly Winds are often­times thus Tempestuous in En­gland and Flanders; which re­ceive their first efforts from the wide Seas, where they bring terri­ble storms; sometimes Snow, and then in large Flakes; but usually in the spring time rain: especially the S. W. which are the most Humid and Pluvious, because they travell by Sea many thousand miles, and must needs wet their [Page 154] wings in so long a flight or'e the Western Ocean. By some writers they are esteem'd Gelid and Moist; but with us they are warmer then the East or North: either because they consist of the tepid vapors and Air, which are heated by the de­clining Sun; or that being Sea-Winds they are therefore generally hotter in the Temperate Zones, then those which blow off the Land.

Lastly: the Northerly Winds, in these parts of Europe, are accoun­ted Cold and Dry: by reason they arrive from the Frigid climats of the North, and consist for the most part of resolv'd snows and ice.

They cause a sude and serene sky dispersing the Clouds; where­fore Boreas in Homer is styl'd [...] Serenator Boreas: yet in Africa [Page 155] they cause rain, and are moyster then the South; which according to the complexion of those Coun­trys, has a greater degree of siccity and heat.

In some places of Holland & Flan­ders, where they gather the vapors from the German or Scotish Seas, the N. Winds often bring with them Cloudy and wet weather. And wee have known as great falls of rain here in England; the VVind being at N. and N. E. but then it usually continued at S. or S. W. for some days before. So I have supe­cted, that those vapors & Clouds, which were gather'd, and blown over by the Southerly, were after­ward reduc'd back again by the Northerly VVinds.

They render the Northern men [Page 156] vegete and healthfull, to extreme old age, by hindring the exilition of the spirits; when as the Africans are old at 40, where the continuall heat opens the pores, and suffers the vitall flame to transpire.

That which makes the Fortunate Islands truly so, is the kind salute from the Northern VVinds, after they have been somewhat heated in their progresse towards the South.

The gates of Citys, in the opi­nion of the wisest Architects, ought always to be directed towards the North; and the situation of Tornay in Flanders is celebrated by Fro­mundus upon that account. Hippo­crates prescrib'd the N. Wind as the greatest Antidote against the plague in Greece: and Varro is said to have preserv'd his whole family during [Page 157] the raging plague at Corcyra, by stop­ing up the windows towards the South, and giving free admission to the Northern Air. Yet one of the An­cient Phycitians gives a worse Character of the Northerly Winds: That they cause acute pains, and defluxions from the head to the Stomack: Breed the Stone, and stop the passages of the Ureters. hinder the Transpiration of those peccant juyces which nature en­deavours to throw off from the Blood; and produce many more distempers which are reckon'd the effects of Siccity or cold. They are searching and Astringent; scarce to be endur'd by those who have infirme habits of body, and yet agreable to healthfull and robust constitutions. Sir Walter Raleigh [Page 158] in his voyage to Guiana takes no­tice that neer the Coast of Brasil, they had one half of the yeare Nor­therly, and in the other part Souther­ly VVinds; And further towards the South in the Kingdomes of Ma­gellana and Chili, they have them the whole year round Southerly; which raign most in the Tropique of Capricorn, as the North Winds at Island, and those Countrys which lye neere the North Pole; especially in the VVinter, so that the Hollanders which winter'd in Nova Zembla, during the whole time, had Northerly Winds. Thus the Sun, as he approaches either of the Tropiques, subtiliseth the Air, driving away the grosser Exhalati­ons into the Frigid Zones, where they are laid up in vast Magazines till [Page 195] winter; but then the spaces being able to contain no more, they Circulate again to the middle of the World. For the Solar motions, being excen­tricall to the Earth, cause so une­quall a distribution of heat & cold, that the Air must of necessity be denser in some parts then others; and consequently lyable to the fre­quent disturbance of VVinds: and the vapors, according to the distinct seasons of the yeare, being conti­nually either retiring from the Poles, or on their voyage thither, the Sun, as Prince of the Atmos­phere, obliges them to a motion no lesse constant then his own: Inso­much that neither These, or indeed any other VVinds, are so fortui­tous as many suppose, but proceed from regular causes, and are guided [Page 160] by the certain conduct of nature, though happily the manner of it may not be fully understood by us.

The Norths are often exceedingly impetuous on the shoars of Florida and Virginia, taring up Forrests of vast Trees by the roots, and wast­ing the whole Country like Hurra­canes. They blow very hard to­ward the Orcades and on that side the British Coasts. But they must needs be very sensible of their ef­fects in Finmark & Russia which lye more expos'd to their fury. The Bishop of Upsal in two Chapters [De Vehementiâ Venti Cir­cii. Lih. 1. De Gent. Sept. & De Vent. Sept. Vio­lentiâ] informes us of many dis­asters, which happen by them in Norway and Island: particularly, that at the Port call'd Vestrabord, [Page 161] the N. E. VVind blows with such vehemence that it dismounts the Horsemen, and Souldiers, driving them away before it. On the Western shoars of Nor­wey, it suffers not so much as a tree or the least shrub to grow, that the Inhabitants are forc'd (if you believe our Author) to roast their meat with fire made of great fishes Bones. And in Bothnia, and that part of Norwey which they call Vichia, the Northern Whirlewinds are so terrible, that they carry a­way the roofs of their houses, and of the Churches which are cover'd with lead, blowing away great beams and rafters, removing Wind­mills, stones, and even Castles, and Villages from one place to an­other. If this be an Author suspe­cted, [Page 162] the Annals of our own Country will furnish us with rela­tions of the same nature, which would require as large a share of credulity to believe them, if the rage of these Tempestuous Winds was not sufficiently understood in most parts of Europe, though happily in remoter Climates, which are less ac­quainted with the great Disturbers of the Northern World, they might seem fabulous. Some of which are solemny recorded in our Historys, that even exceed the Hurracanes of the West Indies. Yet I have heard, that those Winds, which we count very great stormes here in England, would be thought no wonder in Scotland, where they are accusto­med to these violent Blasts; and for this reason build their houses uni­versally [Page 163] with stone, exceeding thick, low, and with narrow win­dows. But not to be prolix in their History; we might offer at the cause whence this strang vehemence and impetuosity of the N. VVinds does proceed. Shall we say from the great quantity of exhalations laid up in the Treasuries of the North? or because they find the resistence lesse toward the South, where the Atmosphere is rarified by the heat of the Sun, so that they glide without opposition through the yeilding Air, especially in the day time, wherefore the aforesaid Northerly Winds are observ'd to blow harder by day then night.

They are more Sonorous then other Winds, because they rage with greater violence, and so make [Page 164] a stronger collision of the Air.

I have thus farre considerd their nature in the remoter parts of Eu­rope, where they are nearest their Source: But after they have made a long Progresse Southwards, and are heated in their approaches towards the Sun, we find them in Africk to be farre different from what they were in Norwey or Island; and their qualityes no lesse various then the Temperature of the Heavens. So likewise in America, (and as Acosta observs more particularly of some Countrys in Peru,) the Norther­ly Wind is counted unwholesome, and the Southerly extremely cheri­shing to men and beasts: The first is not penetrating nor disperses clouds, as among us, but causes rain: and the South Wind is just qualify'd in [Page 165] those climes as the North is in our country's that lye nearer the Ar­ctic Pole: Nay, not only compara­tively to different situations, and places, but the judgment to be made concerning the Qualitys of Winds, from the Quarters whence they blow, is very various and falli­ble, in relation to one and the same Latitude. Many of the hardest frosts, which have happend in Eng­land, began with a Southerly wind, (and then commonly are the more lasting and violent) which never­theless is generally much hotter then any other, which arrives at the British coasts.

I took notice, no longer since then the 11 of January last: that in the morning we had much rain (the wind being N. and N. E.) which [Page 166] ceasing about noon, there followed, first a showre of haile, and then a considerable fall of snow (the wind still continuing at N. and N. E.) which was the most part of it dis­solv'd by 3 or 4 in the afternoon: then the VVind vering to full South, it froze exceedingly hard for the time. So little certainty is there in observations of this nature, that we had Rain with a Northerly, and Frost with a Southerly VVind in the same day. And not only thus, but it appear'd by the Weather­glasse, to which I had recourse up­on this occasion, that there was a very suddain mutation in the Air from heat to cold, when the Wind came about to the South, more then in the morning while it conti­nued at N. and N. E.

[Page 167] VVee must expect these so dif­ferent Qualifications of VVinds, to happen even in the same Cli­mate: since not only the Variety of their Component Particles, and the Fountains which gave them birth; but either the Cutting down Forrests; Draining of Fenns: Chan­ging the Currents of great rivers: Their Vicinity or Distance from the Course of the Sun: whether they blow off from Land or Sea, or Snowy Mountains; and a thousand extraneous accidents are sufficient to alter the Properties of Winds.

Neither are the laws of their Motions reducible to such certain rules, as [...]. Meteor. lib. 2. cap. 6. Aristotle pretends; That two Opposites alwaies blow at Contrary Seasons of the [Page 168] year: As the N. W. about the Ver­nall, and the S. W. at the Autumnall Aequinox: and it would likewise be examin'd whether the same Contra­riety happen constantly between the Solstitiall Winds. Others have ob­serv'd, that wee commonly feel a a S. Wind at midnight, an Easterly at the Rising, and a Westerly after the Setting of the Sun; and last of all, a Northerly about Noon, when the Solar rays are most powerfull to resolve the grosser mists and clouds in the North. For VVinds, being for the generality, Nothing but Di­lated Vapours or Air, they almost wholly depend on the Presence of the Sun, at least are generated from the heat left behind him in the Earth and Waters. VVhereupon De-Cartes ingeniously remarks, that [Page 169] wee should have no such Variety in the Qualities and Production of Winds; if the whole Terraqueous Globe were of one uniforme super­ficies: as wee may perceive that in wide Seas, their motions are farr less irregular then by Land; since the great diversity of Climates, Mountains, and Lakes, varies them exceedingly.

I have thus farr discours'd of the 4 Principall: the Collaterall or In­termediate VVinds (if any right judgment could be made of their natures from the Quarters whence they blow) might be suppos'd Hot, Dry, Moist &c. as they are farther remov'd, or hang nearer towards the Cardinal Point. But we are like to expect little satisfaction from the generality of writers con­cerning [Page 170] the temperature of VVinds: For who can with pati­ence hear the impertinence of those Notionall men, that enquire no fur­ther, but declare? That the South Wind is allways Hot and Moist: the North, Cold and Dry: the West &c. which obliges us in the following discourses, to offer at some more accurate account of their Quali­tys, and the most Universall causes from whence they proceed.

First: VVinds are Moist; either because their Constituent parts are made up of Vapid and Aqueous cor­puscles, such as rain, dews, watry Clouds: or by reason they make long Voyages by Sea, or over great Lakes, Morish Countrys & Fenns; and so are tainted with the Quali­tys of the Medium through which [Page 171] they passe. Those which pro­ceed from Melted Snows, have some small allay of the Terrene, but approach neerer the Moist.

The Siccity of VVinds is from their Saline, and Terrestriall parts: or that arriving from those Parc'ht and Torrid regions neer the Line, they are exsiccated as they travell by the Ways of the Sun.

I shall not dispute whether this has been cautiously enough minded by most writers, How many nice circumstances are to be consider'd in judging the Qualitys of VVinds; and how difficult it is, to make a just Estimate of their severall de­grees of Heat and Cold. For there must not only be especiall regard had to the Temperament of our Sen­ses, but to the Climes in which [Page 172] they blow; and seasons of the year; Since those which would seem hot at Christmas compara­tively to the winter Cold, should the same happen in July, when wee had been long accustom'd to a dif­ferent temperature of our Organs and the Ambient Air, would undoubt­edly appeare exceedingly Cold. Then wee denominate VVinds ei­ther Gelid or Hot, in respect of those that usually blow in such Climats: as the Southern Blasts with us here in England (though they are Colder then the Ambient Air) may be reputed Hot, com­paratively to the N. or N. E. which are much more refrigerative in these parts of the VVorld. Thus wee ought not rashly to make judg­ment of their Qualitys: but first [Page 173] consider what Symptoms of Heat, they betray in relation to Weather-glasses, or the Winds that com­monly blow in such Countrys: as likewise, what mutations hap­pen by them in the Temperature of the Air: And afterwards com­pare all these Circumstances with the present disposition of our Or­gans, least wee determine concer­ning the positive Qualitys of VVinds, from only the Prejudices, and Hallucinations of Sense.

There are severall Causes Pro­ductive of Heat: As their passage through Hot Regions; Or because they consist of the ignite and suffo­cating Air, which infests the Burn­ing Zone; where the whole Masse is corrupted with such intolerable heats, that the Winds which are [Page 174] either generated therein, or only pervade the Torrid regions, must needs, for some time, retain their temperament and Qualitys: till at length they loose them in long voy­ages, and the calorifique particles languish and dwindle away by de­grees, being oppres'd with multi­tudes of Heterogeneous exhalati­ons in their course. Then, I think it not improbable, but that the So­lar rays, or whatever parcells beside of the Subtil and Aetheriall matter, may by mingling with them, actually advance the heat of VVinds. And Lastly: The ig­nite Damps such as wee sometimes discover in Colepits and Mines, and all other of the Minerall and Me­talline Kingdomes, that finding no Vent, cause Earthquakes in the [Page 175] Bowells thereof, if they escape through the Pores of the Earth, oc­casion Presters and Hot VVinds: And those fiery eruptions, which in many places of Calabria and Sicily, are continually breathing out from the Subterraneall Regions, must needs diffuse the seminals of heat through the whole body of the Air and VVinds; especially, such as come reaking from under Burn­ing Mountains; or at least are the results of those Calorifique mix­tures by which some Mineralls and salts, fermenting together in the Cavitys of the Earth, emit Hot fumes: Like severall Chymicall pre­parations, such as Oyl of Tartar and spirit of Vitriol, which cause a strange Ebullition and Heat by their commistion only. And if [Page 176] wee suppose any thing Analogous to these under ground (where Na­ture in her own Elaboratory often exceeds the greatest Sagacity of Art) why may not the Tepid Steams and Vapors that ascend from thence, be able to produce so considerable a degree of Heat in the Air, that might occasion Scorching Winds? And happily the Ran­counters of Certain Mineralls with each other, in those Passages where the VVaters flow, may likewise by their mutuall ferments, be the most probable cause of many Hot Baths & Springs. Neverthelesse Fro­mundus, & some other Naturalists of late, in the Number of which wee may reckon our Countryman Mr. Hobs, affirme that all VVinds whatever doe actually refrigerate, [Page 177] and oftentimes so intensly, that they prove the fittest instruments for the Congelation of Liquids: And I must confesse, it seldome falls under our observation, that in any parts of Europe, the VVinds are comparatively hotter then our Sensories, or the Ambient Air; yet in many Provinces of Afric & Ara­bia, but most of all near the Persian Gulf, where they come just off from the Burning Sands, they are intolerably hot and suffocating: as appears from the Relations of the Portugalls first Voyages to the East Indies, where they felt Gales of the E. and N. E. Wind so Hot, that the Air seem'd to be inflam'd and scorching like fire. So like­wise Gasparo Balbi in his Travells speaks of four persons, that weary'd [Page 178] in their Journy, sat down near the Banks of Euphrates to refresh them­selves a while, and were all stifled by one of these Hot Winds. And wee have a more surprising Nar­rative from Marcus Polo: that, when the King of Chermain sent an Army of 16 Hundred horse, and 5 thou­sand foot against the Lord of Ormus, for not paying his Tribute, they all perisht by these Suffocating Blasts. But if wee distrust the integrity of these writers, Olearius in his Voyage to Persia, describes the intempera­ture of the Air in those Countrys to be such; that with the North or East Wind they felt a Cold which de­priv'd them of their Limbs, and on the Contrary the S. Winds were ready to choak them with the ex­tremity of heat. But Della Valle, a [Page 179] Nobleman of Rome (whose Cu­riosity led him through most of the Eastern Kingdomes) reports, ‘that towards Arabia there was a VVind so scorching and Dry, that it left behind it like marks of Fire, wherever it came; and the excessive Heat forc'd them to keep their legs naked, which be­came so red and inflam'd, that without the greatest Torment, they could not endure to set them on the ground.’ In some places of the Country, these Soultry Gales last from 9 in the morning, till noon; which are ready to stifle the inhabitants, and blowing immedi­ately from the Scorching Sands, the people many times lye in the wa­ter to rescue themselves from the intolerable Heats. Della Valle [Page 180] says, that they are call'd in the An­nalls of Persia, Bad Semum, i. e. Burning and Venemous VVinds.

I have heard the like relations from many of our Sea Captains, who trade on the Arabian or African Coasts: so that I think Mr. Hobs or any other of the Modern Natu­rallists had little reason to question the Heat of some Winds: though in these parts of the world, where they travell not over such Sandy De­sarts, and are more remov'd from the ways of the Sun, they are more sensibly Cold.

By Gelid Winds, I understand those which are colder then our Sensories, or the Ambient Air. This Frigidity may happily proceed from the Nitrous particles of which they consist, or whatever body else [Page 181] wee reckon to be the Primum Fri­gidum; Or because they have their Origine in those Caverns under the Earth, where the Sun beams never penetrate, and no Subterraneall warmth is to be found. Monsieur De Cartes averrs that all Boistrous Winds, from whatever point of the Compasse they blow, Meteor. cap. 2. are Universally Cold and Dry: and wee find that any sort of Air vio­lently mov'd by a Fanne or Bel­lows, does refrigerate; so that the Cold of Winds may somewhat de­pend on their motion, or manner of affecting our Senses. And since the Cartesians will allow Cold to be no positive Quality of it self, but a mere Privation of Heat: then, either the absence of their Subtil matter may cause the Frigidity [Page 182] of Winds; or else the occasion thereof must be this, that they passe thorough the Gelid Regions which are never visited by the Sun Beams. For as Those which come from Aethiopia and other parts of the Torrid Zone, doe imbibe the Heat, and Sympathise with the nature of the places from whence they come; so question­lesse the other that consist of, or drive before them, the grosse and Frigorifique Air from Groen­land and other Northern Climates, must needs have considerable al­lays of the Mediums through which they passe. And within the Po­lar Circles, the absence of the So­lar rays for so many Months, do's sufficiently conduce to the Produ­ction [Page 183] of Cold; since the Sun which us'd to correct the rigour and inclemency of the weather, is now banisht from their Horizon, and the Air become Chill and Torpid by the long Predominance of the Cold. So that the VVinds must of necessity admit of very considerable alterations in their passage: and whether or no they consist of Frigorifique particles; yet by their commerce and enter­fering with the Gelid Regions, they may draw, I know not what, Contagion from thence: As ap­pear'd in the foremention'd Expe­riment, how much the mixture of Snow and Ice, only by applying it to the outside of the bellows, did soon infrigidate the Transient VVinds. For I am not suffici­ently [Page 184] convinc'd, that Cold VVinds, proceed always from Nitre, Sal Ar­maniac, or other Frigorifique Cor­puscles; But sometimes only ap­peare so to us, by their particular Motions on our Sensories: As wee see any Air Ventilated from Fanns or Bellows, or our own breath darted with a very vehement im­pulse from the Mouth, appears Frigid; which if wee exhale ga­ping, and in another position of the lips, is rather sensibly Hot.

Thus if VVinds may be styl'd Cold from a simple Privation of Heat, and if only the want of some Subtil Matter, the absence of the Sun, or other Calorifique Corpus­cles, will resolve the severall Phae­nomena wee commonly ascribe to cold; this will be sufficient to con­stitute [Page 185] the Refrigerative Winds; which may better be explain'd in this manner, then by the Positive Qualitie of the Peripatetiques, or the Nitrous, and other Frigorifique particles of the Atomists, and Cor­puscularian Philosophers. I shall only add one circumstance out of the Honourable Mr. Boyl, con­cerning the causes of cold Winds. I have supected some Winds may be Cold only by consisting of, or driving before them, those higher parts of the Air, that by reason of the longuid re­flexion of the Sun beams in the Upper Region, is for the most part Cold.

Yet, as I before declar'd, wee often commensurate the Qualities of Winds, not only from their Consti­tuent Particles, or their just degrees of Frigidity or Heat, but sometimes [Page 186] because they are warmer then the Ambient Air, or the Winds that usu­ally blow in such Climats; or at least­wise then those membranes or Sen­sorys, by which wee judge them. The VVinds which blow off from Sea, are farre Hotter then those which come from Land. May not the Collucent Salts, which create such a sparkling and Coruscation in Tempests, or other vehement Collision of the waves, be able to produce some heat in the Air and VVinds, being either actuall Flames or at least making those impressions on our Sensory's as if they were? Neverthelesse, since wee find by experience that these kind of Salts, with which the Sea water is impregnated, doe nei­ther rise up in vapors, nor being min­gled [Page 187] with liquids, any way advance their Heat; May there not be other Calorifick Effluviums (like the hot Steams in Colepits and Mines) that ascend from the bottome of the Sea, yet cannot so easily perspire through the solider Superficies of the Earth; which renders the Maritime Regi­ons and VVinds hotter then the Midland? But whatever be the cause, it is most evident that all over Europe, the winters are gene­rally milder in Islands then many places in the Continent which lye nearer the Sun. As in England then France; nay Scotland, though it be situate so farre North, has sel­dome more keen and piercing Frosts then Paris, or some Citys of Italy, which are infested with Terrestriall Winds. So likewise [Page 188] part of Asia, as in China where it runs to the Southwards of Spain, the winters are most excessively cold: & in the 42 degree of Latitude, they have ice which lasts 3 or 4 Months together, by reason of the Land Winds. For this cause New Eng­land, though it lyes not so farre distant from the Aequator, is in­comparably colder then any parts of Great Britain. And at Virginia, as I have been inform'd, the Land Winds oftentimes surprise them with such an Exceding sharp Air, that one would think it impossible there should be those extreames of Heat and Cold in the same day. So on the Coasts of Carolina and Flori­da, where they have for the most part Midland Winds, the Colds are intolerable considering their no great [Page 189] distance from the Sun. When as the Sea-Brise in most parts of Eu­rope, is temperate and mild: I have heard, that in the Isle of Jersy, the Myrtles, will live abroad all win­ter, being cherisht on every side, with the tepid vapors from the Sea; and that little ice they have is soon gone. It's also observable neare the Sea side here in England, as in the County of Cornwall, that the Snow is generaly melted in lesse then a weeks space, and the Frosts not so lasting as elsewhere: Shall wee say the acrimony of the Sea vapors soon dissolves the textures of the ice and Snow, or that they choak up and repell those Frigori­fique Corpuscles, which are as the Coagulum to cement, and knit toge­ther the parts of liquids? So like­wise [Page 190] on the Coasts of Ireland, the Complexion of the Air is much Hotter then in many other places of the same Latitude: and were it not environ'd with the Ocean, who would think Island inhabita­ble, that lyes directly under the Polar Circle?

Yet this holds good only in the Temperate Zones: for in the Tor­rid, the Sea-Brise is refrigerative, and abating the excesse of heat; And contrariwise on the African Continent the Land-Winds, which travell o're the Burning Sands, all­most suffocate the miserable inha­bitants, which are roasted into Ske­letons, and sometimes loose their Hearing and Sight by the immo­derate Heat: Yet in part of Guiny, where the Neighbouring mountains [Page 191] defend them from the Easterly Winds, & suffer the cool Sea-Brise, to blow upon their Coasts, how wonderfully are their Spirits re­viv'd with the delightfull gale? But though the Levants are so pernici­ous, when they come reaking off from the Sandy VVilderness, yet being Refrigerated in a long pas­sage o're the Pacifique Ocean, at the Caribbes, and the American Conti­nent, they become the coolest of all VVinds, and the greatest blessing which Providence could ever be­stow on the New World, to allay the otherwise insufferable heats of the Torrid Zone: Only part of Peru, though the Soyl be of it selfe fertile, and enrich't with all the bountys of Nature, yet on this side the Mountains, the Land-Winds [Page 192] render it sterill and unfruit­full; when as Brasile enjoys a more Temperate Heaven, being bedew'd with the reflreshing Brise from the Adjacent Ocean.

From these severall instances it appears, that the Land-Winds must needs be more intensely Heated, between the Tropiques, then in these parts of the VVorld, that lye so farre distant from the course of the Sun; And the Earth, being a dense body, retaines the Calorifique impressions; when as the voluta­tion of the waves so often changes the Superficies of the water, that the same parts of the Ocean are not always expos'd to the Celestiall Beams: And though it must be ac­knowledg'd that neare the Aequi­noctiall, the Surface of the Earth, [Page 193] and consequently the Winds that blow over it, are much warmer then in the Neighbourhood of the Poles; yet without dispute the Oce­an also is proportionably as much Hotter then our Seas; And though the Sea-Winds seeme Refrigera­tive with them, which rather be­tray very great Symptoms of Heat in these Countrys; yet I question whether this, in some mea­sure, may not be understood Compa­ratively to the disposition of our Sensories, and that of the Ambient Air. For, their Blood and Spirits being farre more agitated then ours, and also accustom'd to a Cli­mate excessively Hot; they must of necessity have different Percepti­ons from us, who live in the Colder Regions of the VVorld.

[Page 194] But beside these Vulgar or Ele­mentary Qualities of VVinds, they have almost infinite Variety in their Natures, according to the severall Subjects they can operate upon; and their Propertys are various, as the different impressions which they make upon other Bodys. For those which are Corrosive, in reference to iron, or stone, may prove Pestilen­tiall to men; and one and the same Quality have one denomination, as it relates to Beasts, a second to Birds, and a third to Insects, according to the different Capacities of the Reci­pient. Some Winds are observed to raise strange disturbances, and (as it were) Convulsions in Swine. And those who keep Silk-worms, are said to shut their Windows, and protect them from the South-Wind, [Page 195] which causes their sicknes and death; but readily expose them to the North, which conduces as much to their vigour and health. So that we can never pretend to a perfect knowledge of their Qualities, unless we understood their relations to all other bodies in the World.

But among the wonders of Winds, we must not pass by the Harmatans of Guiny; which, for the time they blow, cause Wainscoats and Planks to open and gape, ma­king wide chasms in the most solid and imporous wood. I could insert many testimonies of this nature from credible persons; severall who lived in those Countries, and not a few of our Seamen, have been witnesses of their strange ef­fects: I shall instance in one relation [Page 196] which was communicated to me by Captain Peachy, who was long employd in the African Trade by the Royall Company.

‘The Harmetan VVinds, so called by the Natives, come but once a year, constantly in Decem­ber about Christmas; and bring a ve­ry unwholsome Vapour.’

‘Their arrivall is for the most part at the East, and they go no farther then the E. N. E. their con­tinuance is 4 or 5 days, not blow­ing hard, but with an easy gale: the Natives are full of Aches and Pains in these times, and care not for stirring out of doors.’

‘The Trees that are standing, during their continuance, will o­pen, that you may put in your knife and sheath: so will the [Page 197] boards of the floors, when as be­fore there was nothing seen, and after they are gone, they close up again to their wonted place.’

This may proceed from their extreme Siccity, when they blow off the Sands, in that exceeding Hot Climate; as wee see boards chop and gape, that are kept over dry; and more in Chambers or Cock-lofts, then lower rooms; and so likewise most sorts of wood, by lying long in the Sun, which ex­hausts their moysture: The known remedy in such cases, is, to soak them thoroughly in water, by which means, they oftentimes swell again into their former dimensions: so possibly may the trees, and planks in Guiny, when the Harme­tans are gone, and some Moyster [Page 198] VVind succeeds, which brings with it a more Humid and relent­ing Air. VVee have observ'd ef­fects of this nature in some of our very Drying March-VVinds; and therefore the workers of Musicall Instruments commonly chuse to dry their materials at that time of the yeare; which, as they think, renders them more resounding & harmonious.

I have not as yet had sufficient opportunity to satisfy my selfe in one Curious enquiry which belongs to the History of VVinds: only, thus much I have heard, that, when a certain VVind blows at Florence, the weavers of the finest silks leave off their work; finding by experi­ence that it quite spoyles the Orien­cy & Brightness of their Colours; so that they can by no diligence or [Page 199] invention seclude it out of their work-houses, to hinder the ill ef­fects thereof. It is a cold Wind, per­haps blowing off from the Snowy Hills, where it gathers those cor­roding Salts, which alter the tex­ture of the superficiall parts; and by causing new modifications of light, change the colours of silks. As the richest and most florid dyes of Scarlet are not only soon faded in a showre of rain, but it has been observ'd, that they suffer prejudice, and loose somewhat of their lustre, if they be worne much in misty weather: and so possibly certain species of Air or Winds, may be able to make the like kind of im­pressions on those Florentine silks.

VVee find by experience that some VVinds produce very odd [Page 200] effects in many sorts of Animals and Plants; and others convey in­to the Air spirits so subtil and pe­netrating, which dissolve the hard­est of Metals. That inquisitive Jesuit, in his Naturall History of the West Indies, gives us an ac­count of the iron grates, which in those parts were so much rusted and consum'd with the Winds, that by only pressing them between your fingers they dissolv'd into Powder. VVhich has likewise been observ'd of the Air about Lon­don (whether from those Corro­sive salts, or the great quantity of Sulphur contain'd in the Sea­coale) that it does not only spoyl Tapistrys, and beds, tarnish the most polisht silver plate, fowl linnen and paper, and sully all sorts [Page 201] of Household-stuffe, with it's Fuli­ginous steams, but has a very sen­sible operation on the Iron or Brasse in their Chimnies and Windows; which it corrupts, and causes to rust much sooner then in the Coun­try. I shall not undertake to Phi­losophise concerning the cause of the former Phaenomenon, unlesse wee were better acquainted with the si­tuations of those places in the West Indies: Only wee are suffici­ently inform'd, that in some of the American Kingdomes, the Earth exhales very noxious vapours, that occasion a strange contagion in the Air; though impartiall Nature has recompenc'd this inconveni­ence with many blessings which the Old World did never enjoy: In the plains of Peru they have a [Page 202] VVind which kills men (if wee may give credit to the Spanish wri­ters) without the least sense of pain and afterwards by it's extreme Subtlety and cold, preserves them from Putrefaction. Since the first discovery of Almagro, great numbers of persons have been found dead in those Desarts; some lost their feet and hands, that were rotted by these Virulent Blasts, which happend to the Generall Co­stilla, and many others of the Chri­stians who travelled into those parts: Insomuch that the Spanyards, who formerly us'd to passe over the Plains between Peru and Chile, rather undertake a laborious voy­age by the Sea-side, then hazard the disasters which they might other­wise expect from these VVinds. [Page 203] But, I insist not upon instances, for which wee have no further evidence of truth, then the credit of the rela­tors: yet we must suppose that there is quite another Face of Nature in those remote Climates; therefore wee ought not to explode all things as false, that are only different from such observations, to which we have been accustom'd in these parts of the world.

The Winds neare Serra di Lyo­ne, where the Neighbouring Moun­tains abound with many putrid & Sulphureous exhalations, breath out in such venemous Blasts, that they breed Pestilentiall Feavers, and other diseases in the inhabitants. So very considerable are their influen­ces, not only in other regards, but to the benefit, or prejudice of Hu­man [Page 204] life; For a kind Temperature of the Heavens, Serene Air, and wholesome VVinds, which is the Atmosphericall dyet, are full as ne­cessary to the Health & welfare of Mankind, as good meat or Drinke.

Those likewise which have their Origines from such Subterraneall Caverns, that exhale noxious Fumes, like the Killing Damps in deep pits or Mines, must needs by this means, mingle a great al­lay, and adulterate the purity of the Air, when the virulent particles are carry'd and disperst by the Winds: what can wee expect but a Mor­tall and unwholesome vapour from such places, as the Denne of Charon near Naples, where the deadly ve­nom transpires insensibly through the pores of the Earth, and suffo­cates [Page 205] all Animals that enter at the mouth of the Cave. Empedocles, by stopping up one of these Poisonous Caverns, and hindring the Eruption of the Winds from thence, is said to have cur'd an Epidemick sick­nes which they had occasion'd in all the Citys thereabout, where­upon in Plutarch he was afterward styl'd [...]: And in all other recesses under * [...]. ground, where the Pregnant womb of the Earth is stor'd with so many severall sorts of Minerals, & Salts, if they ascend from thence, they must needs fill the Atmosphere with as great diversity of vapours: And therefore those VVinds, which are generated in the Sulphureous soil of Puteoli, smell of brimstone a great distance from thence; & those [Page 206] which come from infected places, propagate the contagion, and bring death along with the infectious Air.

Thus wee see VVinds are not all vested with the same Qualities, nor alike friendly, or injurious to Human life; but they sometimes are replete with those Arsenicall and Deleterious Corpuscles, that convey into our blood the seeds of diseases; and otherwhile with such agreable juices, that recreate and cherish our spirits, and contribute to longevity and Health.

But the wonderfull effects of Winds are more obvious to reason, then perceptible by the justest cri­teriums of sense; since the invisible Agents are diffus'd every where; and the Air is as the common Ve­hicle, or [...] of all things, where [Page 207] so many different sorts of Saline and Minerall spirits are continually Floating, and driven to and fro in the Atmosphere: So that, I believe much of that Naturall Magic, by which distant Bodys act upon each other (though wee usually ascribe it to Occult Qualities, or certain Sym­pathies and Antipathies in matter) to proceed from no other cause then the secret operations of Winds: For they are the Carriers of the Universe, and transport from one place to another, odors, diseases, fertilising Salts, the seeds of Ani­mals and Plants, and most other things, of which wee can give no ac­count how they came there; as ve­getables, that spring on the tops of houses, or those which are observ'd to grow on the walls of Castles, & [Page 208] Ancient Theaters; nay some­times whole Groves and vast For­rests have at first had no other Planters then the VVinds.

But to attempt a full collection of all their Properties and Effects, must be the work of Posterity; which possibly may require many ages e're it be brought to Perfecti­on: And to complete the many Desiderata of this Phaenomenon in an Universall History of VVinds (For we have only the Out-lines of this vast Design in Sir Francis Ba­con) it would be adviseable to make an exact Table or Ephemeris, for many years together, and so dayly compare the observations of their Prognostiques, the Quarters whence they blow, their Duration and Pro­perties; how farre they agree or [Page 209] differ from what has been already delivered in Books. Many of this na­ture are set down by the Lord Veru­lam, but for the most part collected out of Aristotle and Pliny, though with lesse improvement then might have been expected from that illu­strious person. However, since the Learned World has been so long im­pos'd on by Tradition; we ought, in the first place, to be throughly informed concerning all matters of Fact, and afterward consider to what Hypothesis they may best re­late: and because That must be the result of long experience, and obser­vation, I can only commend this Province to those curious Persons, who have leisure, either to make such new Discoveries of their own, or detect the Vulgar Errors of for­mer [Page 210] Times.

It should first be examin'd what influences they have upon Human Bodies; in relation to their Sickness or Health: and those who are in­clin'd to Gowts, Catarrhes, infirmi­ties in the Sight, distempers of the Lungs, Epilepsies, Deafness, &c. might be able to collect observati­ons of this nature; what inconve­nience they are sensible of from a­ny sort of VVinds.

Those celebrated Aphorisms of Hippocrates concerning their Medi­cinall Qualities, ought to be con­sidered; how farr they are found Experimentally true and consonant to the observations of the Moderns: For if we rightly understood the different Temperatures of the Air, and VVinds, and how to apply [Page 211] this remedy to many distempers, it might possibly prove the most succesfull part of Physick.

Next, as to the Diversities which arise from the Quarters whence they blow: whether the East and North betray not in these Countries continuall Symptoms of Siccity and Cold; and the South and West, of Heat and Moisture. Likewise, as to their effects upon Animals; Since the South has a thousand Malig­nant influences; and, according to our English Proverb, The Wind at East, is neither good for man nor beast. Then, which of them are most a­greable, or inauspicious, to the Ve­getable life; what observations of this nature can be drawn from A­griculture, and Gardening? which are those VVinds that are most fa­vourable [Page 212] to the Sowing and ripen­ing of Corn, or most pernicious for breeding worms in plants, or for blasting and destroying their fruits.

VVhat directions this Doctrine might afford to Architects, in choo­sing the Situations of Dwellings: whether the Air of many houses might not be meliorated by giving a freer admission to the Winds; since it has been observ'd, that se­verall Dwellings here in England, which were environ'd with huge woods, or sometimes had only a clump of trees standing towards such a Quarter, have been always obnoxious to sicknes, till they happen'd to be cut down, and the places render'd pervious to the Winds: Sometimes only the chang­ing of a window, or door, from the [Page 213] South, and exposing it to the North, has done as great a cure. It is well observ'd in the Relation of my Lord Howards voyage to Constantino­ple, that, at Vienna they have fre­quent Winds, which if they cease long in the Summer, the plague of­ten ensues; so that it is now grown into a Proverb: that, if Austria be not Windy, it's subject to Contagion.

In the next place, what advance­ment might be expected from hence to the Art of Navigation. Since, I am confident that more ships perish, by our ignorance of the Winds & Currents, then by any other Disaster which happens on the Seas: If the Masters of ships were oblig'd to give in Jour­nals of their voyages to all parts of the world; and these for many [Page 214] years compar'd with each other, we should not only be able to collect a Complete History of the Trade Winds, and Monsoons, and their va­riations in the severall Latitudes and Meridians, (which would be of very great importance) but should find, that there are many Anniversary Tempests which might be very certainly foretold by the Seasons of the yeare, and Provision made accordingly; Beside other usefull Circumstances of the An­nuall Motions, and Reversions of the Seas, according to the Decli­nation of the Sun (which hitherto most of our Seamen have thought to proceed purely from chance) might be reducible to so regular observations, that, beside the great improvements which would re­dound [Page 215] from hence to Philosophy, & all Naturall Knowledge; it would be of no small advantage to the in­terest of Trade and Navigation. This noble Art is worthy of Phi­losophers and Mathematicians, and the Mechanical part ought to be esteem'd the least, that should accomplish a skilfull Seaman. So that, men of letters ought not to dispise this, as a rude and illiberall profession; to which we must be beholding for the most considerable Discoveries of Nature.

Then, as to their Continuance or Succession: It has been noted that if the VVinds change conformably to the Motion of the Sun; as from the East to the South, from the South to the West, &c. they sel­dome return thither again, at least [Page 216] for no long time: But, if their changes happen in a contrary man­ner to the course of the Sun, as from West to South, from South to East, &c. they usually revert back again to the former points, before they complete the whole Circuit of the Compasse: We have this re­marque in my Lord Bacon; and he disdain'd not to borrow severall observations of this kind, from Husbandmen and Sheapheards; who are lesse within doors, and more concern'd in all the vicissi­tudes of the yeare, whether or no they are like to expect kind seasons for their Corn, and flocks. It might likewise be enquir'd into, what Prognostiques the Seamen have of the weather, in all parts of the world, where they have different sorts [Page 217] of Tempests: I am inform'd, that they also commonly observe, when the VVind has been long in one Quarter, if it passe into a Quarter of the like Quality, it is seldome constant, but reverts to the former: as suppose the East, if it change to the North, it frequently returns, but if it passe by the South, and follow the Sun, the weather pro­bably changes for some continu­ance, and not per Saltum, as if it should skip from the East, to the West, or from the North to the South, for then it's seldome holding. It is not my design to multiply instan­ces of this nature, I only offer at some few, to compare the Mutati­ons of the Weather, with those of the wind; & questionlesse in a long tract of time, they might be reduc'd [Page 218] to some more certain rules, then those in Aristotle or Pliny; at least better calculated for an Island; which being invaded on all sides by the Sea-vapors and Winds, sel­dome enjoys the same serene Face of the Heavens, for any long time together; but is generally farre more obnoxious to all chan­ges of weather, then the Continent.

Next, what certainty there is in any Astrologicall Predictions, as by the Age, or Phasis of the Moon, Appearance, or Conjunction of the Starrs, &c. The Rise of the Orion is more particulariz'd in Authors; but seems to be rather a Concomitant of other causes, then of it selfe, the Efficient of VVinds.

So likewise, what information we might receive from all sorts of [Page 219] Trades: of what concernment it might be for Vintners to have their Cellar-VVindows expos'd to this, or that VVind; since Michael Angelus Blondus in his book of Na­vigation, affirms, that the Easterly, and Paduanus in his Treatise of VVinds, that the Southerly, have a very sensible operation on the VVines in the Cask. I have heard that some of the Vertuosi who pretend to great skill in ordering of Cidar, find by experience, that certain Winds set it a fer­menting more then others, and render it turbid and thick; so that when they perceive them coming to such a Point of the compasse, they critically observe the just time for botling it, to prevent these in­conveniences. Rules have been [Page 220] prescrib'd to Drudgsters, and Apo­thecarys upon this account, for the preserving their Medicines: and happily some remarks might be taken from Cabinet-makers, joy­ners, and other Mechanicall Artists, in the drying and seasoning their Materials, that might conduce a fuller History of VVinds.

Lastly, it would be no lesse be­neficiall to the Advancement of Naturall knowledge, to detect the Falsity of those Assertions, which have been long receiv'd in the world, from the great reputation of their Authors. As for example, those which are set down by Ari­stotle, in the second of his Mete­ors, and in the book of Problems, where he endeavours to explicate severall Phaenomena of the Air and [Page 221] Winds; as in the first Section. Probl. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 19. 23. and in the Twenty sixth Section. Prob. 3. 9. 13. 14. 15. 16. 18. 21. 22. 25. 37. 38. 40. 42. 48. 49. 56. 58. which I mention more particularly, because I find My Lord Bacon in his Chap­ter concerning the Qualities of VVinds, follows exactly the tra­ces of Aristotle; and the generallity of Peripatetique writers have made it their Non Ultra, daring to ad­venture no further in these enqui­ries, then was prescrib'd to them by that Great Genius of Nature. So likewise the sentiments of Theo­phrastus deliver'd in his Book of VVinds, and the rest of the Ancient Placits, ought to be more thorough­ly examin'd; before we receive them for infallible: many things [Page 222] in Pliny that relate to this Argu­ment, might be considerable, were they not suspected to be generally false: But since the too great Ve­neration of Antiquity, has impos'd so many Vulgar Errors on the credu­lous world; it will be the most generous design, first to free our minds from those prejudices we have taken up from Tradition, and upon this foundation to superstruct a more Reall and Experimentall Philosophy.

I have only mention'd some few observations of that infinite Varie­ty, with which this fruitfull Ar­gument will entertain the Curious: And so from their Causes and Qua­lities, proceed to the Progno­stiques of Winds.

First we might enquire what [Page 223] the radiant, sanguine, pallid, nubi­lous, or other Appearances of the Sun, signify to the predictions of VVinds.

What the Age or Eclipse of the Moon, the picked, or obtuse figure; the greater resplendency of the Lu­nar Horns, or the Conjunction of it with other Planets: likewise Halos about the Sun, or Moon, the shoot­ing, or twinkling of Starrs, &c. whether these may be accounted Prognostiques of VVinds? In like manner, if the Sun seem big­ger then ordinary, or dart more refulgent Beams; or if it rise in a Cloud of the same Colour, &c. All these different Appearances of the Heavenly Bodys proceed chiefly from refraction, the visual rays be­ing distorted by the Density of the [Page 224] Medium: and the collection of those rorid and nebulous vapors in the Air, that cause these unusuall perceptions in our sense, may first generate Halos, and afterward des­cend in Tempests, or VVinds.

Some prognosticate from Co­mets and Eclipses: and it would be farther worth our remarque; what connexion there is between certain species of Thunder or Lightnings, and Wind; what predictions may be taken from the colours, mo­tion, and as it were Severall sto­rys, and ranges of Clouds, or the suddain appearance of any Single one above the Horizon, in an extra­ordinary serene and peacefull sky, as wee observe in Tornados.

Others have been no lesse super­stitious from the suddain palenes of [Page 225] Fires, from the roaring of the Sea, from the resounding of Echos, or a noise heard from the shoars, which happens many times before the Levants blow in the Mediterranean; or if there be a Murmur in the Mountains, or Clouds without Thunder; or if the Sea seeme to rise, or swell, in those places where there is no sensible VVind to irritate it. Some have employ'd their curiosity, in making praedicti­ons from Birds, and Water-Fowle, from Ravens, and Crows, the playing of Porpuses and Dolphins, the spinning of Spiders, the leaping of Fishes above the water, &c. Innumerable of this nature may be had from Aristotle, Paduanius, Pe­trus de Medina, Ricciolus, Fournier; though for the most part fallible [Page 226] and uncertain, we might offer at the Philosophicall reasons of some Prognostiques; but those, which have any evident connexion between the causes & effects, may be solu'd from the former Discourses.

But (as I before noted) the great Inequalities in the superficies of the Earth, the severall obsta­cles and repercussions from moun­tains, the different Situations of the places, and Medium's in which they blow, the distance of those Countries from the Poles of the World: Their respects to the course of the Sun: whether they comply with, or resist the Naturall Motion of the Air from East to West &c have so many intricate, & nice speculations, that it will be hard to lay down any perfect Theory of [Page 227] Winds. Yet certain it is, that most mutations which happen in the Air, either as to heat, cold, or such like qualities, are chiefly occasi­on'd by the diversities of Winds; which, for the time they blow, are the Soveraign Lords of the Atmos­phere, and influence, and dispose of it as they please: Beside this, they help to sustaine, or dissolve the clouds; they ventilate and purifie the Stagnant Air, preserving it from Putrefaction, and by this means are the greatest Benefactors to Man­kind.

Their Number and Distribution, has been very different in the time of Homer, only 4, of Strabo 6, of An­dronicus Chyrrestes, 8, though in strictness, we may suppose as ma­ny severall sorts of Winds, as points [Page 228] in the whole Horizontall Arch. The Romans came to 12: others have very aptly multiply'd their number to 16; 4 answering to the Cardinall points of the Heaven, and 3 Collate­rall, between every Cardinall Wind: But the Moderns, since the encrease of Navigation, have divided their Compass into 32 points, known in these Parts, by the Dutch or German names; and by the Italian, in the Mediterranean Seas.