620 JAMAICA. 



SECT. VI. 

 HURRICANES. 



The limits of the trade-wind are fixed to about the 30th degree of N. 

 latitude ; and thefe ftorms are feldom known to proceed beyond 1 8 or 

 20 N. They ufually happen after, or juft about the fun's return from the 

 Tropic of Cancer; at which time the places neareft to the North of the 

 Equinoftial are moft fubjeft to them. The fun, by its long ftay at 

 the Northern Tropic, heats all thofe parts that are immediately under its 

 zenith to a very unufual degree j and hence currents of dcnfer air may 

 rufii from the climates further North ; which, coming in oppofition to 

 the regular trade, may produce variable winds and calms, followed by 

 terrible gufts, till the proper ftate of the air is reftored, and the trade is 

 fettled again in the Eaft. All hurricanes come on either on the day of 

 the full, the change, or quarter, of the moon. They begin from the 

 North, veer b;ick to the W. N. W. Weftward, and S. S. W. ; and, 

 when got round to the S. E. the foul weather breaks up. 



The inhabitants within their track are feldom taken unprepared, as 

 there are feyeral prognollics of their approach. 



Firft, Extraordinary continuance of dry, hot weather, for leveral 

 iponths. 



Secondly, On their near approach, a turbulent appearance of the 

 Iky. The fun unufually red. The air perfeftly calm. The higheft 

 mountains clear of fogs, and feen very dillinftly. The ftars at night 

 with large burs round them. The fky towards the North Weft look- 

 ing very black and foul. The fea fmelling unufually Hrong, and rol- 

 ling on the coaft, and into harbours, with a great fwell. On the full 

 of the .T.oon, a bur is feen round her orb, and fometimes a.lislo round 

 the fun. Thcfc figns fhould be carefully watched, in Auguft, Sep- 

 tember, and October. 



Thirdly, Immediately before the ftorm begins, the wind commonly 

 blows hard for an hour or two from the Weft ; which never happen- 

 Wg but on fuch an occafion, the tempeft may with great certainty be 

 cxpeded to follow. From the Weft it fuddenly chops to the North- 

 Eaft; then backening to the Weftward again, veers about the compafs, 

 until it fettles into the regular tmde. 



This ifland has been lels affedtcd with them, than the W!indward 

 C;iribbt:e iflands ; where they occur frequently, but do not often pafs 

 beyond Porto Rico. 



Th'. Lift, which happened on the 31ft of Auguft, 1772, was parti- 

 <;ularly deftrudive to them. This dreadful tempeft, which feems not 

 V) ija.ve gone furtlier South, than 15 degrees N. lat. fell on all the 



Car ib bee 



