BOOK III. CII A P. YIL 6zi 



Carlbbee iflands, in their turn, from that degree of latitude, and paffing 

 along by Porto Rico, Hifpaniola, and the Soutli fide of Cuba, iWept 

 acrols the mouth of the Gulph of Mexico, quite into the Bay of Hon- 

 duras, in a courfe of near 700 leagues, or upwards ; for its place of 

 origination is unknown. 



Jamaica, being fortunately fcreencd by the iflands of Hifpaniola and 

 Cuba, which intercepted the main ftream of wind, efcaped without 

 any material damage ; the inhabitants thought the weather a little 

 tempeftuous, but were not alarmed at it ; the wind was chiefly felt on 

 the North fide of the ifland ; but, in moft other parts, they had deluges 

 of rain, which flooded the rivers to an incredible height, tore up l"e- 

 veral bridges, and drowned a good many cattle, (hcep, and ibme. 

 Negroes. 



A gentleman, who was at this time paflenger in a fmall veffcl bound 

 through the Gulph of Florida, for North America, gave the following 

 account. 



They had juft left the Weft end of the ifland, on the 31ft of Au- 

 guft, but could then perceive no appearance of approaching bad wea- 

 ther. The wind indeed got round to the Weji-ward, and continued in 

 that quarter, blowing moderately, for three days. They fuppofed 

 themfclves off the Cuba Qiore, in the afternoon of September the 3d^ 

 and were then quite becalmed. On a fudden the wind came on vio- 

 lently from the North, and blew very hard till midnight. About. 

 half an hoi:f afterwards it ceafed at once, and a perfeft calm enfued^ 

 which lafl:ed only a few minutes ; when a contrary wind as luddenly 

 began from the South j and, by its oppofition to the range of the 

 waves, railed a moft terrible fea. At one o'clock this wind incrcalcd 

 to a tremendous height, and continued, without the fmalleft abate- 

 ment of its fury, till two : from this time it abated but very liule 

 till noon, when it hauled round to the Eaftward, and there fettled 

 into a moderate gale, which brought them clear weather again. The 

 progrefs of this florm from the Northward, round by the Weft and 

 South, to. the ufual quarter of the trade-wind, agrees with, and cor- 

 roborates, what has been before-mentioned in general, allowing for 

 iome fmall variations which may happen in places differently fituated. 



The third of September has been a remarkable day in the annals of 

 England. It was the anniverfary of the two memorable vidories gained 

 by Cromwell, at Dunbar, 1650; and Wojj' ifler, 1651 ; he died on tiie 

 third of September, 1758 ; and the fame day produced one of the molt 

 violent tempefts ever remembered there, and probably only to be 

 equalled by this, which happened in 1 772, in the Weft Indies. 



Hurricanei- 



