Page 289
An.1686
Of the Æthiopick and Atlantick Ocean.
in the breadth of Asia and Africk, the Atlantick Sea, or the American Continent, or all together ; and so that Tract of the Terraqueous Globe, must be so much shortened. And for a further confirmation of the fact, I shall add, that as to the Æthiopick or Indian Sea, its breadth must be considerably less than 'tis generally calculated to be ; if it be true what I have heard over and over, from several a- ble Seamen whom I have conversed with in these parts, that Ships failing from the Cape of Good Hope to New-Holland, (as many Ships bound to Ja- va, or thereabouts, keep that lat.) find themselves there, (and sometimes to their cost) running a ground when they have thought themselves to be a great way off ; and 'tis from hence possibly, that the Dutch call that part of this Coast, the Land of Indraught, (as if it magnetically drew Ships too fast to it) and give cautions to avoid it : But I rather think 'tis the nearness of the Land, than any Whirlpool, or the like, that surprizes them. As to the breadth of the Atlantick Sea, I am from good hands assured, that it is over-reckoned by 6, 7, 8, or 10 degrees ; for besides my different draughts of the concurrent Accounts of several experienced men, who have onfirmed the same to me ; Mr. Canby particularly, who hath failed as a Mate in a great many Voy- ages, from Cape Lopez on the Coast of Guinea to Barbadoes, and is much esteem d as a very sensible man, hath often told me, that he constantly found the distance to be between 60 and 62 degrees ; whereas 'tis laid down in 68, 69, 70, and 72 de- grees in the common draughts.
As to the supposition it self which our Seamen make, in the allowing but 60 miles to a degree, I am not ignorant how much this hath been canvased, of late years especially, and that the prevailing o- pinion hath been that about 70, or upwards should be allowed. But till I can see some better grounds for