The Introduction. 
xlv 
by me of another dreadful Earthquake which happened afterwards 
in this Iland in the Philofophical Tranfaétions, Numb, 209. p.77. 
Thunder is here almoft every day in the Mountains, with the 
Rains there, fo that any perfon in the Plains may hear it, as well as 
fee the Rain, It does not fo ordinarily accompany thofe Rains that 
come from the Sea, although when it does ‘tis very violent, and has, 
en the feveral fubftances it meets with, either animate or inanimate, 
the fame effeéts as follow Thunder in Europe. 
Lightning for the moft parc precedes Thunder in this Ifland, as 
elfewhere : and if it be fair Weather, efpecially in the hotteft Sea- 
fons, it lightens almoft all the night over, firft in one part of the 
Sky or Horizon, out of fome Clouds, and then out of others op- 
pofice to them, as ic were anfwering one another, as it happens 
often in the Summer in England, >c, and gives occafion to people 
of fancy to foretel flrange Wars, ec. when they pleafe, making 
thefe Apparitions in the Air, Soldiers in Battalia, ec. 
Falling Stars are here as common as elfewhere, 
If the Seafons of the year be to be counted from the Spring of 
Vegetables, the Spring will be after every Seafon or great Rain, every 
thing then fpringing up after much Rain, fo that during the time of 
{uch Rains is reckoned the Winter time. But they ought rather to 
follow the nearnefs or diftance of the Sun, and fo they will have the 
fame time for the Seafons as in Europe; and indeed although the 
vifible effects are not fo plain, having the Sun when moft diftant fo 
near them ; yet that chofe times ate more to be counted fo than any 
others, is plain from this, chat inthe months of November, Decem- 
ber and January, the time of the Suns greateft Southern dittance from 
them, a great many Trees fhed their Leaves, alchough they are de- 
ftitute of them, neither all ata time, nor for many weeks, the warm 
Sun, even then, when fartheft off, cloathing them {peedily wich 
new Garments. In che months of February, March ot April, is 
the beft time for planting Yams or Perennial Beans, they then, viz, 
in the Spring, taking betcer Root, and cariving more than at other 
times. Befides the Dog-days, or the time near them, are, as other 
where, very infamous for their fultry heat. 
Their Agriculture is but very fmall, theit Soil being as yet fo 
fruicful as not to need manuring or dunging cheir Land alchough 
they begin to lay by cheir Dung for future ufe, they feeing by the 
example of their Neighbours in Barbados, that they may need it. 
And even they themtelves here have in fome places fail’d of Sugar- 
works, as near the Angels, where che ground had been cultivated or 
manur’d before theic coming to the Illand, It was, and is among 
feveral, the cuftom to burn their Trafh, which is the Marc or re- 
(m) (1 2 aeeader 
