Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 22.1

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.