220 THE WEATHER. 



deep gully between the hills. A plank windmill was ex- 

 posed to the wind, which came down this gully, and 

 with such violence as to carry a shingle from a dis- 

 tant building in such a direction as to enter the plank of 

 the windmill three quarters of an inch; a piece of the 

 plank, with the shingle in it, was put on board the Ville 

 de Paris; to be deposited in the British Museum. The 

 Ville de Paris was lost, and with it the evidence of this 

 fact. 



The swell of the sea was so great from the violence of 

 the wind, that a ship of about four hundred tons was car- 

 ried on the land about eighty rods from the shore ; this was 

 the only habitation for many of the distressed inhabitants 

 of Savanna le Mar till they could rebuild. There were 

 many almost miraculous escapes ; arid farther scenes of 

 distress which it would be difficult to describe.' 



The variable winds which blow in different parts of the 

 earth, are sometimes productive of very striking effects, 

 owing to peculiar circumstances. If the current comes 

 from a dry and sandy country it is of course dry and 

 scorching ; and the reverse. There is the hot sirocco, 

 the damp and chill east wind of New England ; the 

 refreshing sea breeze ; and the fatal simoom. We shall 

 give but one specimen of these; it is the harmattan, a 

 current which derives a drying and withering influence 

 from passing over the arid sands of Africa. It blows 

 from the interior towards the western coast. 



' Extreme dryness is an extraordinary property of this 

 wind. No dew falls during the continuance of the har- 

 mattan ; nor is there the least appearance of moisture in 

 the atmosphere. Vegetables of every kind are very 

 much injured ; all tender plants, and most of the pro- 

 ductions of the garden, are destroyed : the grass withers 

 and becomes like hay ; vigorous evergreens likewise feel 

 its pernicious influence ; the branches of the lemon, 

 orange, and lime trees droop, the leaves become flaccid, 

 wither, and, if the harmattan continues to blow for ten 

 or twelve jlays, are so parched as to be easily rubbed to 

 dust between the fingers. The fruit of these trees, de- 

 prived of its nourishment, and stinted in its growth only 

 appears to ripen, for it becomes yellow and dry, without 

 acquiring its usual size. The natives take the opportu- 



