n 18 deg. and 23 deg. of west longitude on losing the
north-east Trade; and likewise to endeavour, if possible, to cross the
equator somewhere between these two longitudes. Before reaching the
line, however, the navigator will almost always be met by the
south-east Trade-wind. From January to May he may expect to meet it in
1 deg. or 2 deg. north latitude; but in summer and autumn he will find the
northern or equatorial limit of the south-east Trade a degree or two
still further to the northwards of the lines.

On first encountering the south-east Trade an outward-bound ship is
obliged to steer much more to the westward than she wishes to do, in
consequence of the wind blowing so directly towards the equator, and
not along it, as some of the books will insist on, in spite of Nature.
So that if she be a dull sailer she may have some difficulty in
weathering the coast of Brazil about Cape St. Roque. As she proceeds
onwards, however, and makes a little more southing, the wind will haul
more and more round from the south to the south-east, then
east-south-east, and eventually to east at the southern limit of the
Trade-wind. An inexperienced sailor, on first entering the south-east
Trade, is very apt to be too solicitous about making southing, and
hugs the wind much too close; whereas he ought rather to keep his ship
off a little, give her a fathom or two of the fore and main sheets,
and take a small pull of the weather topsail and top-gallant braces,
to ensure making good way through the water. Indeed, many officers go
so far as to recommend flanking across the south-east Trade with a
fore-topmast studding-sail set. Although, I think, there can be no
doubt of the soundness of this advice, I confess that it does require
no inconsiderable degree of faith to adopt a course, which,
apparently, takes the ship not directly away from her object, but very
much out of the straight road. In this respect, it may be remarked
that the scale of navigation on every Indian voyage is so great, and
the importance of getting into those parallels where favourable
breezes are certain to be met with, of so much more consequence than
the gain of mere distance, that two or three hundred miles to the
right or left, or even twice that space, is often not to be regarded.
Accordingly, in cutting or flanking across the south-east Trade-wind,
the object, it should be remembered, is not to shorten the distance,
but to reach those latitudes where strong w