260 Mr Black mi tlie Climate 



locality on the winds of the place, as it does on those of other 

 places. For six months in the year, the snow on the gigantic 

 mountains of Albania is a fruitful source of cold and moisture 

 to the winds sweeping over them ; and, therefore, in the early 

 part of summer (in April and May) a change of wind from the 

 S.SE. or SW., to the direction of these mountains, is attended 

 with a sudden and great decrement of temperature ; while a 

 contrary effect as remarkably obtains on a reverse of the prior 

 phenomena. The chief complaints, resulting from such changes 

 of wind, are catarrhal and mucous affections, which are quite 

 endemical in such seasons. When the snow is melted, the 

 breeze from the mountains would be not only warm, but dry ; 

 but as seven miles of water intervene, the breeze always gains a 

 degree of humidity before it arrives at the anchorage. These 

 easterly winds are, however, not frequent during the hot months; 

 but if they gently prevail, in the evening a haze generally settles 

 down on the tops and shoulders of these mountains, occasioned 

 by the reverberation from their heated surfaces preventing the 

 deposition of dew from the humid strata of the incumbent at- 

 mosphere. 



Ithaca. — This is a good anchorage in the hot season ; for 

 though the island is sterile, it is dry, and possesses few or no 

 sources of hurtful exhalations. 



Acarnania. — The whole coast about Missolonghi, and the 

 mouth of the ancient Achelous, is very unhealthy, especially 

 during the autumnal months ; as the marshy and low lands in 

 this diluvial region are an extensive bed for the production 

 of noxious exhalations ; and I would recommend no vessels to 

 anchor by night near this coast in that season of the year. In 

 May 1826, a good deal of fever made its appearance on this 

 coast, and which was declared to be of the typhoid variety. It 

 was communicated to one of our vessels of war. Whether the 

 disease was solely to be attributed to the marsh exhalations, or 

 partly to the destitution and misery which were spread over the 

 neighbourhood after the fall of Missolonghi, I have not been 

 able to determine. 



The high land of Albania moderates the sultry and oppres- 



