THE EARTH. 145 



and, in general, whenever a trade-wind begins to cease, these irregu 

 .ar tempests are found to exert their fury. 



All this is terrible : but there is a tempest, known in those cli- 

 mates, more formidable than any we have hitherto been describing, 

 which is called, by the Spaniards, a Tornado. As the former was seen 

 arriving from one part of the heavens, and making a line of destruc 

 tion ; so the winds in this seem to blow from every quarter, and set- 

 tle upon one destined place, with such fury, that nothing can resist 

 their vehemence. When they have all met, in their central spot, then 

 the whirlwind begins with circular rapidity. The sphere every mo- 

 ment widens, as it continues to turn, and catches every object that 

 lies within its attraction. This also, like the former, is preceded by a 

 flattering calm ; the air is every where hushed, and the sea is as 

 smooth as polished glass : however, as its effects are more dreadful 

 than those of the ordinary hurricane, the mariner tries all the powev 

 of his skill to avoid it ; which, if he fails of doing, there is the great 

 est danger of his going to the bottom. All along the coasts of Guinea 

 beginning about two degrees north of the line, and so downwardj 

 lengthwise, for about a thousand miles, and as many broad, the ocean 

 is unnavigable, upon acdount of these tornadoes. In this torrid region 

 there reigns unceasing tornadoes, or continual calms ; among which, 

 whatever ship is so unhappy as to fall, is totally deprived of all power 

 of escaping. In this dreadful repose of all the elements, the solitary 

 vessel is obliged to continue, without a single breeze to assist the mari- 

 ner's wishes, except those whirlwinds, which only serve to increase 

 his calamity. At present, therefore, this part of the ocean is totally 

 avoided ; and, although there may be much gold along the coasts of 

 that part of Africa, to tempt avarice, yet there is something, much 

 more dreadful than the fabled dragon of antiquity, to guard the trea- 

 sure. As the internal parts of that country are totally unknown to 

 travellers, from their burning sands and extensive deserts, so here we 

 find a vast tract of ocean, lying off its shores, equally unvisited by the 

 mariner. 



But of all these terrible tempests that deform the face of nature, 

 and repress human presumption, the sandy tempests of Arabia and Af- 

 rica are the most terrible, and strike the imagination most strongly 

 To conceive a proper idea of these, we are by no means to suppose 

 them resembling those whirlwinds of dust that we sometimes see scat 

 tering in our air, and sprinkling their contents upon our roads or 

 meadows. The sand-storm of Africa exhibits a very different appeal - 

 ance. As the sand of which the whirlwind is composed is excessively 

 fine, and almost resembles the parts of water, its motion entirely re 

 sembles that of a fluid ; and the whole plain seems to float onward, like 

 a slow inundation. The body of sand thus rolling, is deep enough to buty 

 houses and palaces in its bosom : travellers who are crossing those ex 

 tensive deserts perceive its approach at a distance ; and, in general, have 

 time to avoid it, or turn out of 'ts way, as it generally extends but to a 

 moderate breadth. However, when H is extremely rapid, or very 

 extensive, as sometimes is the case, no swiftness, no art, can avail 

 nothing then remains, but to meet death with fortitude, and submit t 

 b buried alive with resignation. 



VOL. I K 



