6G A VOYAGE TO Book VII- 



sight, intercepting only the rays of the sun by da}^ 

 and by night those of the stars, the sky being continu- 

 ally covered whatever height the vapours float in 

 the atmosphere. Sometimes, indeed, they are so far 

 dispersed as to admit of seeing the disk of the sun, but 

 still precluding the heat of his rays. 



It is not unworthy observation on this head, that 

 at the distance of only two or three leagues, the 

 vapours are much more dissipated from noon to 

 e\ening than in the city, the sun fully appearing so 

 as to moderate the coldness of the air. Also at 

 Callao, which is only two leagues and a half from 

 Lima, the winter is much more mild, and the air 

 clearer, during that season; for the days at Lima 

 are very melancholy and disagreeable, not only on 

 account of the darkness, but frequently during the 

 whole day the vapours continue in the same degree 

 of density and position, without breaking, or being 

 elevated above the earth. 



It is in this season only that the vapours dissolve 

 into a very small mist or dew, which they call garua, 

 and thus every where equally moistens the earth ; 

 by which means all those hills, which during the 

 other part of the year offer nothing to the sight but 

 rocks and wastes, are cloathed with verdure, and 

 enamelled with flowers of the most beautiful colours, 

 to the great joy of the inhabitants, who, as soon as 

 the severity of winter is abated, resort into the coun- 

 try, which exhibits so elegant an appearance.* These 

 garúas or dews never fall in quantities sufficient to 

 damage the roads, or incommode the traveller ; a 



* I cannot understand v/hat tlic Author means hero by " seve- 

 rity of the winter," unless he would so denominate the most 

 pleasant time of the year j for during this time, while the sun's 

 rays. are cut oft' by the mists, there is a continual spring; and 

 plants and herbs recruit their strength to endure tlie perpendicular 

 rays of the son, which break through tiie mists about the middle of 

 November. j\. 



very 



