l8b L O R D A N S O N ’ S V O Y A G E
flock to be. fixed in the bow both of the barge and pinnace, in order
to increafe their force, in cafe we fhouîd be obliged to-have recourbe
to. them for boarding ftvi-ps, or for any attempts cm (here*
As. we flood from hence to the northward, nothing remarkable
occurred, for two or three days ; though we fpread our (hipsin fuch
a. manner, that it was not probable'any vefl'el of the enemy could
efcape us. In our run along this coaft we generally oblerved, that
there was a current which fet us to the' northward, at the rate of
ten or twelve miles each day. And now, being in abouteight decrees
of South latitude, we began to be attended w.th vaft mim-
befs'of flying fifti and bonitos, which were the firft we faw after
our departure from the coaft o f B razil. But it is remarkable, that
on the Eaft-fide o f South-America they extended to a much higher
latitude than they do on the Weft-fide; for we did not lofe'them
bn the coaft o f B ra zil till we approached the -fouthern tropic. T h e
reafon for this diverfity is, doubtlefs, the different degrees o f heat
obtaining, in the fame latitude, on different Tides of that Continent.
And, on, this occafion, I muff beg leave to make, a Ihort digreflion
o.n, the heat and cold o f different climates, and on- the varieties
which- occur in the fame place, in diffèrent parts o f the . year,, and
indifferent places in the lame degree of latitude.
The Ancients conceived, that of the five zones, into which they
divided the furface o f the globe, two only were habitable, fuppofing
that the heat between the tropics, and the cold withip the polar
circles, were too intenfe to be fupported by mankind. The fallhood
o f this reafoning has been long evinced ; but the particular com-
parifons of the heat and cold o f thefe various climates have, as yet
been very imperfeftly confidered. However, enough is known fafely
to determine this pofition, that all places between the tropics are far
from being the hotteft on the globe, as many of thofe withm the
polar circles are far from, enduring that extreme degree o f cold, to
which their fituation fhould feem to fubjeft them : that is to fay, that
the temperature o f a place depends much more upon other circumr
fiances, than upon its diftance from the pole, or its proximity to
the equinoftial.
This
This propofition relates, to the general temperature, of places,
taklng the whole year round;, and, in- this fenfe, it cannot be de-
nfod” that the city of London, for inftance, enjoys much-warmer
feafons than the bottomof Hudforts bay,, which is nearly in the fame
latitude with it,, but wtons t-b#. fevsrity of the winter is fo- great,
that it will fcarcely permit the hardieft o f our garden-plants to live
And if the comparifon be made between the eoaft of i W and
the weftern Ihore o f South,America, as, for example betwixt Ba-
Ma- and Lima, the difference-will be ftill more confiderable , o
though the coaft of Brazil isextremely fultry,; yet the coaft o f the
South,Seas,, in the fame latitude, is-perhaps as temperate and. to- -
krable as any part of the globe; fince, in ranging along it we did
ieraoie as y p weather as is frequent in a fummer s -
remarkable,, a,there
never fell any rains, to tefrelh and- cool the air.
The caufes of this temperature in- the South-Seat are not difficu
to-be afligned, and fhall be hereafter mentioned. I am now only
folicitousSto eftablifti the truth o f this affertion, that thedatitude o f |
a place alone- is no rule whereby to judge of the degree of heat a,id -
coH which obtains there. Perhaps this, pofition migflt. be mo e
briefly confirmed? by, obferving, that on the tops of the Andes, .
thourfi under the equinoaial, theffnow never melts the wholeyear
t u n d ; a criterion of cold,, ftronger than what.is known to -,
take place in many parts far removed within the ..polar, circle.
I have hithertoxonfidered the temperature i l j g W *
through and the grofs eftimations of heat and cold which every ,
mie makes from hfs own fenfation. If. this, matter be.examined by
means of thermometers, which, in refpedt to the M | g | |
of heat and cold, are doubtlefs the moft unerring e v id en c e s if th s
be done, the refult will be, indeed, moft wonderful: fince it will
henre appear, that the heat in very high latitudes, as at Peter/-
W for inftance, is, at particular-times, much greater ^hamany