BOOK II. CHAP. VIII. 13, 



ginning of November ; and tliey continue blowing till Marcli, and 

 ibmetimes later, but then grow more faiut, and interrupted with 

 the South-eafters, or fea-breezes. The coldnefs and violence of 

 thefe Northerly winds muft be far greater at fuch an elevation than 

 is ever felt below. The fun being at the lame time in its Southern 

 declination, the Northern Hopes of the Ridges are {haded moft part, 

 if not all the day ; and very little moifture can be exhaled from 

 them. Is it not therefore probable, that the vehement prefiure of 

 thefe winds, diredly againft the Northern afpe«51:s, may fqueeze the 

 mofl'y covering as it were a fponge, Co that the aqueous particles 

 contained in it run into cohefion, and afli^mble in fmall rills ; 

 which, as they trickle downwards, are joined and augmented by 

 others, till they form thofe larger rivulets, which have been ob- 

 served to unite with the currents below, that lie in a convenient 

 direilion to receive them ? May not the coldnefs of thefe Norths 

 lb harden the fuperficial foil of the Ridges, as to render it Imper- 

 vious to the humid particles lodged in the mofs ; though, in the 

 warmer feafon of the year, it is fufficiently open to admit a free 

 percolation to all that is not carried ofi by the fun's exhaling 

 power ? The fea-breeze has an oblique direflion againft the 

 Ridges, and therefore, when moll violent, blows upon them with 

 much lefs preflure. It is moreover to be confidered, that the mofs 

 is ranker and more luxuriant on the North afpefts ; and tlic va- 

 pours which over-hang them are, in general, deafer and more con- 

 ftant than on the South fides. Whether the caufes I have afligned 

 are rational, or probable, muft be left to the decifion of abler 

 phiiofophers. That judicious and benevolent writer, Dr. Lind, 

 recommends ftrongly to the inhabitants of the low lands, in this 

 and other hot climates, to retire to a hilly or mountainous relidence 

 at thofe times of the year when the heaviefl rains fall. By their 

 violence and continuance during the Ipace of feveral fuccellive 

 days, the low lands are l^iturated with water; the exhalations from 

 the earth are more copious than at other times; and, if any feries 

 of dry weather has preceded (which generally is the cafe), they 

 are more noxious to health. Add to this, that the atmol'phere is 

 fultry and moift. Thefe caufes difpofe the human body to be at- 

 fefted with agues and fevers (and, of the latter clafs, the putrid), 



S 2 which 



