Chap, ii.] FbeSamiel. 46$ 



Whether the fatal effects of the firocco depend en- 

 tirely upon the degree of fever, which is produced by 

 the extreme heat which accompanies it, or whether it 

 is really charged with any mephitic gas, I have never 

 been fufficiendy informed ; but I wiih that any intel- 

 ligent traveller would examine the ftate of the air by 

 the eudiometer, and by other tefts, during the pre- 

 valence of this wind. Should it be found loaded with 

 carbonic gas, its ill effects might eafily be obviated by 

 fufpending, in the different apartments, cloths dipped 

 in lime water; but from the prefent ftate of the evi- 

 dence I am difpofed to think that all its evil confe- 

 quences depend upon the fudden increafe of the tem- 

 perature only. 



f An extraordinary blafting wind is felt occafionally 

 at Falklands Iflands. Happily its duration is fhort : 

 it feldom continues above twenty-four hours. It cuts 

 the herbage down as if fires had been made under 

 them j the leaves are parched up, and crumble into 

 duft. Fowls are feized with* cramps fo as never to 

 recover. Men are oppreffed with a ftopped perfpi- 

 ration, heavinefs at the breaft, and fore throat; but 

 ufually recover with care. 



* But beyond all others in its dreadful effects, is the 

 famiel, or mortifying wind, of the deferts near Bagdad. 

 The camels, either by inftinct or experience, have 



lofty mountains, the ravines and valleys of which are parched and 

 almoil burnt up in fummer. The numbeilefs fprings of warm 

 water muft alfo greatly increafe the heat of the air, and the practice 

 of burning brufh wood and heath on the neighbouring mountains, 

 during the warm feafon, mult undoubtedly tend to increafe the heat 

 of the wind in paffing over the country of Sicily, though it had 

 previoufly .been difarmed of part of its violence by travelling over 

 the fea which divides Sicily from Africa." Prefent State of Sicily 

 and Malta, p. i$o,. 



VOL. I. Hh notice 



