The Phenomena of the Atmosphere. 91 



the morning. The sick, at that afflicting period, 

 commonly sink under the pressure of their dis- 

 eases ; and it is customary in the morning, when 

 this wind has blown a whole night, to inquire 

 who is dead. 



The sarnie^ or mortifying wind of the deserts 

 near Bagdat, is also dreadful in its effects. At 

 its approach the camels instinctively bury their 

 noses in the sand, and travellers throw themselves 

 as close as possible to the ground till it has passed 

 by, which is commonly in a few minutes. As 

 soon as those who have life dare to rise up, they 

 examine how it fares with their companions, by 

 plucking their arms and legs ; for if they are 

 struck by the wind they are often so mortified 

 that their limbs will come asunder. The fatal 

 effects of this wind must depend upon a quantity 

 of putrid vapour with which it is charged, pro- 

 bably from passing over stagnant lakes, or 

 marshes loaden with putrid matter. 



Whirlwinds, which are so sportive in their 

 appearance in this country, carrying up straws 

 and other light bodies a considerable height in 

 the air, have been known in the tropical countries 

 to produce most tremendous effects. It is 

 probably a description of them which is known 

 there by the name of t^wiados ; these carry up 

 with them the whole materials of a cottage, or 

 even large trees, with the same velocity as our 

 whirlwinds do straws and the lightest bodies. 

 A whirlwind at land is a water-spout at sea ; at 



