What conduces to such annual and regular Returns, is perhaps inscrutable: It is only a general Observation, that the Sun, on or nigh the Æquinox, inclines to rain every where. Dr. Clayton says, (Philos. Trans.) that there are frequent and great Rains at Virginia in April and September, and other Countries observe the same. The ultimate end is to embrue the Land with Fertility, where the Inhabitants have Sense and Willingness to co-operate with Providence.
At Cape Corso this year, they ceased the end of May; they had fell, we understood, for six Weeks before, almost without intermission, only some hours they were heavier, and chiefly in the Nights, with continued Thunder, Lightning, and Calms. Whenever they felt a Breeze, it was Southerly, (directly upon the Land) the Clouds that contained the Rains succeeding one another from the Ocean, as it were orderly. If the Horizon brightened as it does by Spirts at these Seasons, the Sun is felt with redoubled Heat and Fervour.
[30]The Mist and Haziness of the Horizon (always on the Coast) and those great Dews which out of the rainy Seasons fall every night on the Shore, and rarely or never two Miles from it where the Ships anchor, are corroborating Proofs of what is just before hinted under the Article of Currents, that the Vapours supplying these, or Rains, are extracted from Coasts and Shallows more abundantly than from the main Ocean; which would otherways be seen and felt, and in greater measure at Sea, from so large a Body of Waters surrounding; but is so far from happening, that Exhalations of all sorts diminish, as is the Distance from Land.
Again, the Winds from Sea, which are the Winds that usher in these Rains, are known to spring up but a few Leagues from Shore; (the Trade obtaining in all these Latitudes:) and tho’ I say, any regular Periods of it under this Vicinity of the Sun all the year may be inscrutable, yet when they do come, they visibly bring on the Land-Clouds loaded with aqueous Vapors; a more rarified Air there naturally attracting them, and helping their fall.
Both Ships came to Isle Del Principe the end of July, 1721, where we felt dreadful Effects from the excessive Heats and Irregularity of the Seamen, during our Careening; for although we arrived very healthy, the Island furnishing Palm-Wines and the means of debauching at easy Rates, and our Tents giving opportunity; they soon run into Excess, which brought on an epidemical malignant Fever, that reduced us in a short Stay of two Months, to some Deliberations whether we could proceed to Sea safely without a return of Men from England; the Weymouth not being able to purchase her Anchors, and we in the Swallow with difficulty. My Judgment, as Surgeon, was by all means to go, tho’ in the most sickly Condition, because thus removed from the chief Causes of our Misfortune (Calms, excessive Heats, and a disorderly Living) whoever were visited with the Distemper, would by that method find a Crisis in Recovery or Death, and stop the infection: We therefore, with the Assistance of some Men from a Dutch East-India Ship that happened to put in, got under Sail and left the Island; the effect I have related elsewhere more at large, and shall only observe here, that our Fevers for want of Necessaries turned in many to Fluxes, and pursued us, tho’ with less Cruelty. The Weymouth, who brought out of England a Compliment of 240 Men, having at the end of the Voyage 280 dead upon her Books.
Princes was the Birth-place of Africanus and Moulee, of whom they give this tragical Relation; That she becoming a Favourite of her Patron, was forced from Africanus, and having a Child whose Complexion betray’d the true Father, Africanus murdered both, and afterwards himself, to avoid Punishment.
We touched at [31]St. Thome, the chief of these Portuguese Islands for fresh Provisions, purchased cheap; the Profit of half a dozen Hogs fed two or three Months, and sold at the Gold Coast, will maintain the best Mess in a Ship a whole year.
It was lucky for Mr. Rowry, Master of a Bristol Vessel, that the Man of War came in; his Men had made him Prisoner, and were disposing of the Slaves at a very easy Rate with the Governor, who rejects no Schemes of Profit. Rowry, who had been discountenanced by him upon his Men’s Complaints, was now heard indeed; but not knowing rightly the Method of getting Men to bring away his Brigantine in our Company, he was obliged to take what Price the Governor would set on her and her Cargo, and took Passage with us for Cape Corso; where, upon Demand, he accompanied his Leave with a handsome Acknowledgment for his Diet, and went home with the Account.
We regained the Gold Coast in fifteen days from this Island, having met in the Passage some Sprinklings that we understood had been heavy showers on Shore.