5 1 2 History of A nimal Plagues. 



ashes It will be easily conceived, that, in proportion 



as the air became more and more filled with ashes, sand, sulphur- 

 dust, and the smoke and aqueous vapours arising from the burnt 

 districts, it must likewise become more fetid and unwholesome; 

 and, indeed, even intolerable to those who, at such a time, could 

 scarcely draw their breath. The presence, too, in the atmo- 

 sphere, of this mass of extraneous particles, obstructed in some 

 measure the light and warmth of the sun, and caused to prevail, 

 even at the height of summer, a most piercing and unnatural 

 cold; in addition to which, what was still more unseasonable, a 

 heavy fall of snow took place on the nth and 21st of June. It 

 was, however, soon melted. Almost all the new eruptions were 

 accompanied by showers of hailstones, of an extraordinary size, 

 equalling that of a sparrow's egg. These caused much damage 

 and destruction to the grass, and nearly killed both men and 

 cattle; but the mischief occasioned by these was trifling, in 

 comparison of what was caused by the heavy rains,^ which, mix- 

 ing wnth the sand, ashes, and sulphur, that had before fallen in 

 immense quantity, incrusted the fields with a kind of black coat, 

 somewhat similar to ink, but thicker, which poisoned the grass, 

 and rendered the water stinking and unfit for use. Even the 

 rain itself, in descending, became impregnated with sulphur and 

 ashes, which sorely affected the eyes, caused a giddiness in the 

 .head, and was attended with pain as often as it fell on the naked 



body I have already hinted that the damage which the 



pastures have sustained from the torrents of rain are incalculable, 

 for these, accompanied with the most dreadful peals of thunder, 

 have not only in many places rendered the surface of the earth 

 for ever unproductive, by dislodging from the neighbouring 

 eminences great fragments of rock, but have elsewhere materially 



1 During one of tlie heavy falls of rain, it is stated by Holm, that ' there was 

 observed at Drontheim and at other places in Norway, and also at Feroe, an un- 

 common fall of sharp and salt rain, which' was so penetrating, that it totally de- 

 stroyed the leaves of the trees, and every vegetable it fell upon, by scorching them 

 up and causing them to wither. At Feroe, there fell a considerable quantity of 

 ashes, sand, pumice, and brimstone, which covered the whole surface of the ground, 

 whenever the wind blew from Iceland ; and the distance between these two places 

 is at least eighty (Danish) miles. Ships that were sailing between Copenhagen and 

 Norway were frequently covered with ashes and brimstone, which stuck to the 

 sails, masts, and decks, besmearing them over with a black and pitchy matter.' _ 



