Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 22: Answer to the third Inquiry, concerning the Regularity of the Currents of the Sea, and the Winds in the Indies.
Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 22
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Answer to the third Inquiry, concerning the Regularity of the Currents of the Sea, and the Winds in the Indies.
22.1
As soon as the rains cease, which happens commonly about the beginning of October, the sea takes its course toward the South, and the cold North wind rises. This wind continues four or five months without any intermission. It blows the whole of this time with equal force, unattended with tempests, and always from the same quarter, excepting sometimes for a single day when it changes or lulls. After the expiration of this period, the winds blow for about two months without any regularity. This is called the intermediate season, or, as the Dutch have very correctly named it, the time of the doubtful and variable winds. These two months being passed, the sea resumes its course from the South to the North, and the South wind commences and continues to blow and the current continues to run four or five months from the same quarter. There then elapse about two months more, which constitute the other intermediate season. In these intervals Navigation is extremely difficult and perilous, but during the two seasons it is very easy, pleasant, and safe, excepting only the latter part of the South-wind season. It ought not, therefore, to excite your surprise that the Indians, who are a very timid people and ignorant of the art of navigation, undertake pretty long and important voyages; such as from Bengale to Tanassery, Achem, Malacca, Siam, and Makascar, or to Maslipatam, Ceylon, the Maldives, Moka, and Bender-Abbassy.
22.2
They are of course very careful to avail themselves of the favourable Season for going and the favourable season for returning. It often happens, however, that they are detained beyond the proper time, overtaken by bad weather, and wrecked. This is indeed sometimes the case with Europeans, although they be far better Sea-men, bolder and more skilful, and the condition and equipment of whose vessels are so greatly superior. Of the two intermediate Seasons, the one which follows the South wind is without comparison the more dangerous, being much more subject to storms and sudden squalls. That wind, even during the season, is generally more impetuous and unequal than the North wind. I must not omit to notice in this place, that toward the end of the Season of the South-wind and during the rains, although there be a perfect calm out at sea, yet near the coasts, for a distance of fifteen or twenty leagues, the weather is extremely tempestuous. The captains of European and other vessels should consequently be careful to approach the coast of the Indies, that of Surate or Maslipatam, for instance, just after the termination of the rains; otherwise they incur great risk of being dashed on shore.
22.3
Such is the order of the seasons in the Indies, so far at least as my observations justify me in speaking upon the subject. I wish it were in my power to trace every effect to its true cause; but how is it possible to unravel these profound secrets of Nature! I have imagined, in the first place, that the air by which our Globe is surrounded ought to be considered one of its component parts, just as much as the waters of the sea and rivers; because both the one and the other gravitating on this globe, and tending to the same common centre, are in this manner united to our sphere. The Globe then is formed of three bodies, — air, water, and earth. Secondly, our Globe being suspended and balanced in that free and unresisting space wherein it pleased the Creator to place it, would be easily displaced if it came in contact with any unknown body. Thirdly, the sun, after having crossed the line, while moving toward one of the Poles, towards the Arctic Pole, for example, darting its beams that way, produces sufficient impression to depress in some measure the Arctic Pole, which is depressed more and more in proportion as the sun advances towards the Tropic; and in the same manner, the sun permits it again to rise gradually in proportion as it returns toward the Equator; until the same effect is produced by the power of its rays on the side of the Antarctic Pole.
22.4
Taking for granted the truth of these suppositions, and considering them conjointly with the diurnal motion of the earth, it is not without reason that the Indians affirm that the sun conducts and draws along with it both the sea and the wind; because, if it be true that, having passed the line on its way toward one of the Poles, the sun causes a change in the direction of the earth's axis and a depression of the Pole, it follows as a necessary consequence, that the other Pole is elevated, and that the sea and air, which are two fluid and heavy bodies, run in this declension. It is therefore correct to say, that the sun advancing toward one Pole causes on that side two great and regular currents, — the current of the sea and the current of the air, which latter constitutes the Monsoon-wind; as the sun is the cause of two opposite currents when it returns toward the other Pole.
22.5
Upon this theory it may, I think, be said that there are only two main and contrary flows [flux] of the sea, one from the Northern and the other from the Southern Pole; that if there existed a sea from one Pole to the other, which passed through Europe, we should there find these two currents regulated in every respect as in the Indies, and that the reason why this regularity is not general is that the seas are intercepted by lands, which obstruct, break, and diversify their course; in the same manner as some persons allege that the usual flux and reflux of the sea is prevented in those seas which, like the Mediterranean, stretch from East to West. According to this theory, it might also, in my opinion, be maintained that there are only two principal and opposite currents of air or wind, and that in regard to them the same regularity would reign generally, if the earth were also perfectly and generally smooth, and similar throughout.