192 Particulars respecting Hail Storms in the West Indies. 



longing to Sir James Earle, its descent was first obser\'ed, and 

 lasted but a few minutes. This estate is situated about two 

 miles nearly due nortii of Basseterre. Hence the cloud proceeded 

 skirting the nortliern side of the mountains in the direction of 

 Dieppe Bay, where large masses of ice, mostly of a radiated 

 form, were observed to fall during a space of not less than fifteen 

 minutes, Mr. Charles Woodley, who resides in tiiis neighbour- 

 hood, and is an evdightened and intelligent planter, made draw- 

 ings of three of these masses, which he kindly permitted me to 

 copy for Sir Joseph Banks's inspection ; to whom I accordingly 

 forwarded them. Some masses were sv.id to have fallen Vviiich 

 measured seven inches in length : but I suspect this to be an 

 exaggerated statement. The consternation produced among 

 the negroes by so unusual (and to them inexplicable) an event 

 can be more readily conceived than described. But the white 

 inhabitants it might he supj)osed would have regarded it with 

 somewhat more philosophic composure : yet I have been credibly 

 informed tliat a crcole overseer who happened to be in the field, 

 upon being struck with one of the hail-stones, fell in a fainting 

 fit (the result of his fears) from his horse. A similar occurrence 

 is said to ha\e been observed some years ago by the officers 

 of the garrison at Brimstone Hill ; but I caimot procure any cer- 

 tain account of the period or circumstances of the event. 



Subsequent to this fall of ice in St. Kitts, two hail showers 

 have been observed in the windward district of this island, the 

 last of which took place so late as Tririity Sunday. The hail- 

 stones, I am informed, were of the size of the common gray 

 nickers (the seeds of the Guilandinu handuc). I cannot learn 

 that any radiated specimens were observed among them, as was 

 the case at Saint Kitts. 



I have lately made a few experiments with a view to ascertain 

 the safety and efficacyof the seeds of the Sand Box ( Hura crepi- 

 tans) as a purgative remedv. Their operation is commonly re- 

 presented as so violent, both upwards and downwards, as to en- 

 danger the life of the experimenter. Aware however of the 

 strong disposition to exaggeration, and acquainted with an in- 

 stance in which upwards of a dozen of these seeds had been eaten 

 as an agreeable fruit bv a newly-arrived European, without pro- 

 ducing any fatal result, I conceived that they might, by a cau- 

 tious use, prove an advantageous as well as highly palatable ad- 

 dition to our Materia Medica. T accordingly took at first an 

 entire nut pre\ iously decorticated, upon a full stomach, but felt 

 no nausea or other inconvenience follow ; neither were my 

 bowels, as I had wished, in the least aft'ccted : in consequence of 

 which, upon the following morning I took half a nut, which 

 weighed six grains, from which I omitted to remove the germ 



and 



