THE EARTH. 321 



of things on earth, like mirrors; and water- 

 spouts, that burst from the sea, to join with the 

 mists that hang immediately above them. These 

 are but a part of the phenomena that are com- 

 mon in those countries ; and from many of 

 which our own climate is, in a great measure, 

 exempted. 



The meteors of the torrid zone are different 

 from those that are found near the polar circles j 

 and it may readily be supposed, that in those 

 countries where the sun exerts the greatest force 

 in raising vapours of all kinds, there should be 

 the greatest quantity of meteors. Upon the ap- 

 proach of the winter months, as they are called, 

 under the Line, which usually begin about May, 

 the sky, from a fiery brightness, begins to be 

 overcast, and the whole horizon seems wrapt in a 

 muddy cloud. Mists and vapours still continue 

 to rise ; and the air, which so lately before was 

 clear and elastic, now becomes humid, obscure, 

 and stifling : the fogs become so thick, that the 

 light of the sun seems, in a manner, excluded ; 

 nor would its presence be known, but for the in- 

 tense and suffocating heat of its beams, which 

 dart through the gloom, and, instead of dissipat- 

 ing, only serve to increase the mist. After this 

 preparation, there follows an almost continual 

 succession of thunder, rain, and tempests. Dur- 

 ing this dreadful season, the streets of cities flow 

 like rivers ; and the whole country wears the ap- 

 pearance of an ocean. The inhabitants often 

 make use of this opportunity to lay in a stock of 

 fresh water for the rest of the year ; as the same 



VOL. r. x 



