Ck.VÍ. SOUTH AMERICA. 69 



writers should assert that they are confined between 

 the S. and S. W. as this is absolutely false. There 

 are indeed intervals when these winds are scarce felt, 

 and anair^ though extremely small^ seemsto come from 

 <he north, and which forms the fog. 2. In winter 

 the S. wind blows harder than in summer, especially 

 near the surface of the earth. 3. Though no formal 

 rain is ever known in the country of Valles, there are 

 wetting fogs called garúas, which continue the 

 greatest part of the winter ; but are never seen in 

 summer. 4. When the garúas fall, it is observed 

 that the clouds, mist, or yapours, which rise from 

 the earth, remain almost contiguous to its surface ; 

 and the same fog which is converted into a garua, 

 begins by a moist air, till the humidity gradually 

 increasing to its greatest condensation, the small 

 drops which fall are easily distinguishable. This is 

 so natural, that it is known in all other countries sub- 

 ject to any degree of cold, and^ consequently, not 

 to be wondered at in this. 



I GIVE the name of cloud, mist, or vapours, to 

 that which produces the garua or small rain ; for 

 though there may be some accidental distinctions be- 

 tween these three kinds, they arc not such as cause 

 any material dift'erence : the fog being only the va- 

 pour condensed more than when it first rose; and the 

 cloud only a fog elevated to a greater height, and 

 still more condensed than the former : so that in re- 

 ality they may all be considered as one and the same 

 thing, diilering only in degrees of density, and 

 therefore it is of little importance whatever name it 

 is called by. 



5. The rays of the sun during the summer, cause 

 a prodigious heat all over Valles, and the more 

 so as they are received upon a sandy soil, whence 

 they are strongly reverberated, the winds being at 

 the same time very weak. Hence it appears, tint 

 the second hypothesis above related, is not founded 



oil 



