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contrary it is highly probable, that Chinese or Japanese Junks
were driven to the Sandwich Islands ; perhaps across to the
North American coast.
Between the tropics in the Pacific an easterly trade wind is
found during more than half the year ; hut it is not generally
known (except by readers of voyages) that from November to
March there is much west wind, rain, and occasional tempest,
between the vicinity of the equator, and about fifteen degrees
south. This westerly monsoon, for such in fact it is, sometimes
is steadily regular, and at others interrupted by calms,
storms,* or heavy rains. The eastern limit to which it
usually reaches is about 110° W. long., but there is reason
to suppose, that it extends at times, irregularly, to the Galapagos
Islands, if not to the adjacent continent, when Guayaquil
is suffering from heavy torrents of rain. While the sun
is far south, this westerly monsoon extends to the tropic of
Capricorn, between the meridians of 150° E. and 120° W.
longitude. At other times of the year the tropical regions of
the Pacific are refreshed by pleasant easterly winds, varying
in moderate strength, and in their direction from the northward
or southward of east.
Beyond the region of tropical or trade winds, an almost continual
succession of westerly winds is found to prevail. In those
middle latitudes easterly winds sometimes blow ; hut their
amount is not more than one-fifth that of the west winds,
throughout the year.
In the Southern Atlantic and Southern Indian ocean similar
winds prevail, between the parallels of 30° and 60°. Instances
in profusion may he found in "narratives of voyages,
where very small vessels, boats, or canoes, have made long
passages across an open ocean, or have passed months in
ignorance of their geographical situation, enduring the most
dreadful privations. In the event of a float, whether raft,
canoe, or rudely constructed vessel, being carried out of sight
• Daring these storms, which begin very suddenly, not only vessels
are driven out of their course, hut birds, insects, and seeds are carried
to great distances.
of land by current or wind, or by both, and taken into a
steady trade, or lasting westerly wind, it would be impossible
for her to struggle against it for many days; she must eventually
run before it as the last expedient, with the hope, often
forlorn, of falling in with some land to leeward.
When we reflect on the tedious coasting voyages undertaken
formerly, even in historical times; and on the quantities of
provision embarked for those long passages; may we not
infer that the earliest explorers would take as much food with
them as their rafts or|vessels could carry ; and therefore, that
if driven out to sea, they were capable, in some instances at
least, of holding out for a considerable length of time without
having recourse to the last alternative.
I f a vessel were drifted from Easter Island* by a northwest
wind (occasional in July, August, or September,) she
would be carried towards the coast of Chile; she might be
drifted directly there, or she might be driven eastward
for a time, and then, in consequence of wind changing,
drifted towards the north ; so that it would be uncertain
whether Chile, Peru, the Galapagos Islands, Mexico, or
the wide ocean would receive the lost wanderers. I t is also
possible that a vessel may have been driven to South America
from the neighbourhood of New Zealand ; hut this does
not appear nearly so probable as the former conjecture. That
the Araucanians about Valdivia originally arrived in that
country by water, from the west, is I think indicated by what
is stated in page 400 of this volume.
But while man was thus spreading eastward across the Pacific,
are we to suppose that no vessel was ever blown off the
coast of Africa, or that of Spain, and drifted by easterly winds
across the Atlantic ? How easy is the voyage, before a steady
trade wind, from the Canary or Cape Verde Islands to the
West Indies or Brazil; from the west coast of Africa to the
• At Easter Island in 1722, Roggewein found idolaters and fire-
worshippers, and he says that one of the chief idols was called Dago.
In 1774, peoplfj differently disposed, were found there by Cook ; the
idols still remained, hut no traces were observed of fire-worship.