2. That the aforesaid S. E. Winds extend to within two Degrees of the Æquator, during the Months of June, July, August, &c. to November; at which time between the South Latitudes of three and ten Degrees, being near the Meridian of the North end of Madagascar, and between two and twelve South Latitude, being near Sumatra and Java, the contrary Winds from the N. W. or between the North and West, set in and blow for half the Year, viz. from the beginning of December till May; and this Monsoon is observ'd as far as the Molucca Isles, of which more anon.
3. That to the Northward of three Degrees South Latitude, over the whole Arabian or Indian-Sea and Gulph of Bengall, from Sumatra to the Coast of Africa, there is another Monsoon, blowing from October to April upon the North East Points; but in the other half Year, from April to October, upon the opposite Points of S. W. and W. S. W. and that with rather more force than the other, accompanied with dark rainy Weather, whereas the N. E. blows clear; 'tis likewise to be noted, that the Winds are not so constant, either in strength or point in the Gulph of Bengall, as they are in the Indian-Sea, where a certain and steady Gale scarce ever fails. 'Tis also remarkable, that the S. W. Winds in these Seas are generally more Southerly on the African side, more Westerly on the Indian.
4. That as an Appendix to the last describ'd Monsoon, there is a Tract of Sea to the Southwards of the Æquator, subject to the same Changes of the Winds, viz. near the African Coast, between it and the Island Madagascar or St. Lawrence, and from thence Northwards as far as the Line; wherein from April to October there is found a constant fresh S. S. W. Wind, which, as you go more Northerly, becomes still more and more Westerly, so as to fall in with the W. S. W. Winds, mention'd before, in those Months of the Year to be certain to the Northward of the Æquator: What Winds blow in these Seas, for the other half Year, from October to April, I have not yet been able to obtain to my full satisfaction, for that our Navigators always return from India without Madagascar, and so are little acquainted in this Matter; the Account that has been given me is only this, that the Winds are much Easterly hereabouts, and as often to the North of the true East as to the Southwards thereof.
5. That to the Eastward of Sumatra and Malacca, to the Northwards of the Line, and along the Coast of Cambodia and China, the Monsoons blow North and South, that is to say, the N. E. Winds are much Northerly, and the S. W. much Southerly: This Constitution reaches to the Eastwards of the Philippine Isles, and as far Northerly as Japan. The Northern Monsoon setting in, in these Seas, in October or November, and the Southern in May, blowing all the Summer Months: Here it is to be noted, That the Points of the Compass, from whence the Wind comes in these Parts of the World, are not so fixt as in those lately describ'd; for the Southerly will frequently pass a Point or two to the Eastwards of the South, and the Northerly as much to the Westwards of the North, which seems occasion'd by the great quantity of Land, which is interspers'd in these Seas.
6. 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.
7. 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 from the West Coast of America to the Philippine Islands, not less than 150 Degrees of Longitude) is that which is least known to our own or the Neighbour Nations; that Navigation that there is on it, is by the Spaniards, who go Yearly from the Coast of New Spain to the Manilha's, but that but by one beaten track; so that I cannot be so particular here as in the other two. What the Spanish Authors say of the Winds they find in their Courses, and what is confirm'd by the old Accounts of Drake and Cavendish; and since by Schooten, who sail'd the whole breadth of this Sea in the Southern Latitude of fifteen or sixteen Degrees, is, that there is a great conformity between the Winds of this Sea, and those of the Atlantick and Æthiopick; that is to say, that to the Northwards of the Æquator, the predominant Wind is between the East and North-East; and to the Southwards thereof there is a constant steady Gale between the East and South-East, and that on both sides the Line with so much constancy, that they scarce ever need to attend the Sails, and Strength, that it is rare to fail of crossing this vast Ocean in ten Weeks time, which is about 130 Miles per diem; besides, 'tis said that Storms and Tempests are never known in these parts: So that here is the very best of Sailing; no want of a fresh fair Wind, and yet no danger of having too much: Wherefore some have thought it might be as short a Voyage to Japan and China, to go by the Streights of Magellan, as by the Cape of Good Hope.
The Limits of these general Winds are also much the same as in the Atlantick Sea, viz. about the thirtieth Degree of Latitude on both sides; for the Spaniards homewards bound from the Manilha's, always take the advantage of the Southerly Monsoon, blowing there in the Summer Months, and run up to the Northwards of that Latitude, as high as Japan, before they meet with variable Winds, to shape their Course to the Eastwards. And Schooten and others that have gone about by the Magellan Streights, have found the Limits of S. E. Winds, much about the same Latitude to the Southwards; besides a farther Analogy between the Winds of this Ocean, and the Æthiopick, appears in that, upon the Coast of Peru, they are always much Southerly, like as they are found near the Shoars of Angola.
Thus far Matter of Fact, wherein if the information I have receiv'd be not in all parts Accurate, it has not been for want of inquiry from those I conceiv'd best able to instruct me; and I shall take it for a very great Kindness if any Master of a Ship, or other Person, well inform'd of the Nature of the Winds, in any of the aforemention'd parts of the World, shall please to communicate their Observations thereupon; so that what I have here Collected may be either confirm'd or amended, or by the addition of some material Circumstances enlarg'd. It is not the work of one, nor of few, but of a multitude of Observers, to bring together the Experience requisite to compose a perfect and compleat History of these Winds; however I am not much doubtful that I have err'd in, or omitted any of the principal Observables, whatever lesser Particulars may have escaped my Knowledge.