- That in the same Meridians, but to the Southwards of the Æquator, being that Tract lying between Sumatra and Java to the West, and New Guinea to the East, the same Northerly Monsoons are observ'd, but with this difference, that the inclination of the Northerly is towards the N. West, and of the Southerly towards the S. E. but the plagæ venti are not more constant here than in the former, viz. variable five or six Points; besides the times of the Change of these Winds, are not the same as in the Chinese Seas, but about a Month or six Weeks later.
- That these contrary Winds do not shift all at once, but in some places the time of the Change is attended with Calms, in others with variable Winds; and it is particularly remarkable, that the end of the Westerly Monsoon on the Coast of Coromandel, and the two last Months of the Southerly Monsoon in the Seas of China, are very subject to be tempestuous: The violence of these Storms is such, that they seem to be of the Nature of the West-India Hurricanes, and render the Navigation of these parts very unsafe about that time of the Year. These Tempests are by our Seamen usually term'd, The breaking up of the Monsoons.
By reason of the shifting of these Winds, all those that sail in these Seas, are oblig'd to observe the Seasons proper for their Voyages, and so doing they fail not of a fair Wind and speedy Passage; but if so be they chance to out-stay their time, till the contrary Monsoon sets in, as it frequently happens, they are forc'd to give over the hopes of accomplishing their intended Voyages, and either return to the Port from whence they came, or else put in to some other Harbour, there to spend the time till the Winds shall come favourable.
III. The third Ocean call'd Mare Pacificum , whose Extent is equal to that of the other two (it being