466 We Samlel [Book V. 



notice of its approach, and are fo well aware of it, that 

 they are faid to make an unufual noife, and cover up 

 their nofes in the fand. To efcape its effects, travellers 

 throw themftlves as clofe as poflible to the ground, 

 and wait till it has pafled by, which is commonly in a 

 few minutes. As foon as they who have life dare to 

 rile again, they examine how it fares with their com- 

 panions, by plucking at their arms or legs ; for if they 

 are deftroyed by the wind, their limbs are abfolutely 

 mortified, and will come afunder. It is faid of this 

 wind, that if it happens to meet with a fhower of rain 

 in its courfe, and blows acrofs it, it is at once deprived 

 of its noxious quality, and becomes mild and innocent. 

 It is alfo faid, that it was never known to pafs the walls 

 of a city V 



This account of the famiel is extracted from the 

 travels of Mr. Ives over land to the Eaft Indies. Irs 

 fatal effects, if the ftatement is perfectly correct, evi- 

 dently proceed from a certain portion of extremely 

 putrid vapours with which it is charged, and I fufpect 

 it only happens when a ftrong wind chances to blow 

 over fome very putrid and ftagnant lake, which is not 

 far diftant ; travellers, however, are on fuch occafions 

 commonly in a ftate of too much alarm to note cir- 

 cumftances with accuracy, and too much of their ac- 

 counts is collected upon hear-fay evidence. This 

 wind, after all, may only confift of a mephitic vapour 

 which deftroys life "when inhaled ; and the putridity, 

 which is faid fo rapidly to take place, may depend 

 more upon the climate than the nature of the wind. 



A wind or haze was obferved by Mr. Bruce, in the 

 courfe of his travels to difcover the fources of the 

 Mile, refembling the preceding in fome of its effects, 



* See Adams's Leures, vol. iv. p. 541. 



though 



