BOOK II. CHAP. Vm. 109 



that a Wefterly wind generally brought a bad fever among the in- 

 habitants. 



Eaftvvard from the town, at the diftance of from twelve to fif- 

 teen miles, in the parifli of St. David's, are three large falt-ponds^ 

 and fome lagoons. At certain times of the year, when the fea- 

 breeze, or trade, is veering either towards the Northern points, or 

 returning from them to the South-eafl, a wind blows, known here 

 by the name of the rock- wind, and fo calLed from its fweeping 

 clofe along fliore from Eail; to Wefl. Some perfons have been of 

 opinion, that this wind drives on the putrid effluvia colk6led from 

 thefe ponds and lagoons, together with what may arife from the 

 other fmall creeks and flagnant waters Lying near the coafl, and 

 brings them into the town : but this is merely conje<£lural ; and, 

 confidering the diftance, it is not very credible. The inhabitants, 

 it is true, refident at Yallahs, a little way leeward of thefe falt- 

 ponds, are fenfible of an ill fmell proceeding from them, and are 

 generally fickly. But it is doubtful whether thefe exhalations can 

 be tranfported by the wind fo far as Kingfton, without being al- 

 tered in their qualities by the many miles of atmolphere through 

 which they muft needs pafs.. To waft fuch effluvia unchanged to 

 any diftance requires, one would fuppofe, an almolT: calm flate of 

 the atmofphere, and the gentleft impulfe of wind. But the rock- 

 winds are always ftrong, and therefore mufi: be deemed capable of 

 difperfing exhalations, and of rendering them inoffenfive at a fmall 

 diftance from their fource. The perfons who inhabit at Yallahs 

 are within lefs than a mile of the two greater ponds, diredlly in the 

 track of the fea- breeze, which, blowing acrofs thefe flagnant 

 waters, and through the lagoons that border on them, muft of 

 courfe bring a conftant flieam of vapours upon thefe people ; for 

 which rcalbn, it is no wonder that they are fickly, fince they are 

 always involved in a pellilential atmolphere. There feem. there- 

 fore, I think, no probable grounds for believing, that the air of 

 the town is ever annoyed from, the effluvia of thele ponds. Others 

 have imagined, that the Liguanea mountains, which are known to 

 contain mines of lead and copper, emit continual fleams of a 

 noxious mineral vapour, whicli, whenever the land and North 

 winds blow, are precipitated down upon Kingflon, and contribute. 



