6 24 ■ JAMAICA. 



turn ; but it reems not very probable that Iky-rockets and pillols 

 would aiilvver the like purpofc. 



SECT, VII. 

 LIGHTNING and THUNDER. 



The lightning here, if it is not too nigh, forms one of the mort: 

 magnificent objeds in nature, particularly at night, when it moves in a 

 thoufand different figures, and exhibits an appearance far luperior, in 

 fplen,dor and beauty, to the fineft artificial fire-works. 



It is fometimes fecn juft glimmering on the horizon ; at other times, 

 darting along a diftant huge cloud in variegated diredions, ftrait or 

 ferpentine ; or playing round its edge in circles or meanders, beauti- 

 ful and curious, glittering in flreams or jets of the pureft, livelieft 

 golden colour. 



I have remarked three apparently different Torts here ; I fay appa- 

 rently becaufethe mediumol air, through which it wasobferved, might 

 caufe a difference of the perceptible colour. 



1. The red which follows rain. 



2. The white, happening indifcriminately with or without rain ; 

 and which is fure to do mifchitf, when precipitated before rain. 



3. Brut urn fulmen, which flaflies with great vivacity, but without 

 noife, and is ufually attended with much rain, and wind. 



The found of thunder, when it happens in fome parts of the moun- 

 tains, being reverberated from hill to hill, and rock to rock, occafions 

 a continual echo and roar; and during the rainy Icafons, this Ipecies of 

 mufichas been known to laftfeveral hours, without any paufe or interval. 



When the clouds are high in the atmofphere, the thunder is a deep 

 hollow roll through the whole extent of vapours, as if moving ho- 

 rizontally. When the clouds hang lower, the thunder-claps are 

 much louder, more fmart and compaft, refcmbling the near explofion 

 of a cannon. I have remarked that the white lightning, when dart- 

 ing in a finall, thready, ftream, has caufed a filvery, or metallic found, 

 very different from any other. The deep, hoarle, rolling thunder is 

 chiefly heard at the firlt onfct, and during the continuance of the 

 rainy feafons. The thunder fhowers, which are the harbingers of tjiofe 

 ieafons, or that happen upon the breaking up of dry weather, or 

 come with a violent flurry of rain, are produced from large de- 

 tached clouds, and the claps are then fmart and loud. Every clap 

 or explofion from the clouds here, fceins to generate a thin vapour, 

 expanded like a (lieet, in a direction againft the wind ; and tliis ex- 

 panfion continues with more and more dcnfity till the um is wholly 

 \ ciled, and the fea-breczc lulled into a calm, by repeated claps. The 



dcnle 



