26 



The Natural Historic 



last; and 1 have seen old decayed Trees, and especially the 

 Pitch-Pine, frequently set on Fire by these violent claps of 

 Thunder and Lightning, and sometime Trees in their Bloom 

 tore and split in Pieces, yet I have seldom known or heard 

 of any farther Dammage. 



There are prodigious Water-Spouts to be seen in this Coun- 

 try, which are the forerunners and certain Signs of Storms 

 and bad Weather, which quickly follow after them: These 

 Water-spouts are vast exhalations of Water running out of 

 the Clouds like little Rivers, and are generally to be met with 

 at Sea and near the Shores, but seldom or never at Land ; 

 and are to be seen at a great distance, resembling all the 

 colours in the Rainbow; it is said they are dangerous to be 

 met with at Sea, for fear of falling upon their Vessels, for 

 which reason when they espie them near at Hand, they fre- 

 quently fire their great Guns to break them in the Air, be- 

 fore they come near the surface of the Water, as I have been 

 credibly informed by several Masters of Ships; for I have 

 never seen them otherwise than at a great distance. There 

 are no regular Tides in Carolina, but wdiat are occasioned 

 for the most part by the Winds shifting from one Point to 

 another. 



IK 



