WEATHER MAKING, ANCIENT AND MODERN. 261 



We then crossed our line. Ere we had proceeded over 40 chains a 

 delightful breeze sprang up and cooled the atmosphere, and presently 

 a refreshing shower sparkled in the bright rays of the sun. All this 

 excited no further observation than that it had not rained there before 

 for a long time. 1 myself did not observe any smoke nor the formation 

 of any cloud. 



"(-)ur work went on for some days without a repetition of our short 

 cut at pioneering, sonje objection having been made when another burn- 

 ing was proposed, because the first one had rendered it diflieult, after 

 crossing the lines, to distinguish the white men from the negroes. At 

 length, however, the pleasant breezes ceased, which had made the 

 weather for a while endurable, and the still air and ijitense heat 

 returned, and with them constant murnuirs from the men, especially the 

 negroes, whose duty it was to cut lines and mark trees. We were now 

 on the confines of a saw- grass pond, and a much more formidable one 

 than any we had yet encountered. Being surrounded by a cypress 

 swamp, we concluded that it had never yet been burned. My assistant, 

 Capt. Alexander Mackay, who was standing by my side, mentioned his 

 having, in our late contiagration, observed the formation of a cloud at 

 the apex of the smoke. He added tliat it had frequently since brought 

 to his mind some account which he had read of Professor Espy's theory. 

 He suggested that there could not be a better opportunity than this to 

 put tlie theory to the test, and being fond of a joke, he said he would 

 like to astonish the superstitious negroes and to make them believe 

 that he could call together the clouds and bring down rain. So we 

 determined to make the exi)eriment. 



"When our party was all gathei'ed at the halting place coraplaints 

 of the extreme heat went around, and all unanimously agreed that a 

 more confined and oppressive day had never been known to them. To 

 these complaints the usual wishes for ' a little breath of air ' and ' a few 

 drops of rain ' succeeded. ' Cut through this pond,' exclaimed the Cap- 

 tain, ' and I will bring you more than a few drops of rain ; I'll give you 

 a plentiful shower and a breeze, too, that shall wake you up. Come, 

 boys, cut away, and when you've done you shall wash off the dust in a 

 cold bath from the skies.' They stared up and around; not a cloud as 

 large as a man's hand was to be seen, and they looked back at the Cap- 

 tain with a good natured grin of incredulity. 'Ho, ho! ha, ha! Cap- 

 tain make cloud out o' nufhu'; he, he! Captain bring water all dis wtiy 

 fromdeseaf Ho, ho! ha, ha! he, he!' Whereupon the Captain affected 

 to be very indignant. To hasten his victory 1 ordered the grass to be 

 set on tire. The fiames soared forthwith above the tallest trees; a 

 dense volume of smoke mounted upward spirally; the grass soon dis- 

 appeared ; we crossed over. As the smoky column broke and the cloud 

 began to form, the Captain traced a large circle in the sand around 

 him, and placed himself in its center, making fantastic figures and 

 forming cabalistic phrases out of broken French. Still was the cloud 

 unnoticed. All eyes Avere riveted upon the Captain, who stood gazing 

 at the earth and shaping outlines of devils there. At this juncture 

 came a roll of distant thunder. Every glance instantly turned upward ; 

 a cloud was spreading there; the thunders increased; the lightnings 

 flashed more vividly; the knees of the negroes shook together with 

 alarm. Already was the rain descending, and in torrents,"though the 

 clear sky could be seen in all directions under the cloud. The Captain 

 meanwhile maintained his mystical attitude and continued his wild and 

 extraordinary evolutions. Some of the whites, who were in the secret 

 of the hoax, fell upon their knees, and were imitated by the negroes, 



