THE EAKTB. 245 



Btoim of Africa extibits a very different appearance. As the 

 Band of which the whirlwind is composed is excessively fine, and 

 almost resembles the parts of water, its motion entirely resembles 

 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 bury houses and palaces in its bosom : travellers who 

 are crossing those extensive deserts perceive its approach at a 

 distance ; and in general have time to avoid it, or turn out of 

 its way, as it generally extends but to a moderate breadth. How- 

 ever, when it is extremely rapid, or very extensive, as sometimes 

 is the case, no swiftness, no ^t, can avail ; nothing then remains 

 but to meet death with fortitude, and submit to be buried alive 

 with resignation. 



It is happy for us of Britain that we have no such calamity to 

 fear :* for from this even some parts of Europe are not entirely 



u* it «as blown over. The meteor or purple haze which I saw, was indeed 

 past, but the light air that still blew was of heat to threaten suffocation. For 

 my part, I f'jund distinctly in my breast that I had imbibed a part of it ; nor 

 was I free of an asthmatic sensation till I had been some months in Italy, at 

 the baths of Poretta, near two years afterwards. 



* One of the most dreadful storms which this island ever experienced was 

 that which took place ou the 27th Nov. 1703. This tempest was preceded by 

 a strong west wind which set in about the middle of the month ; aud every 

 day, and almost every hour, increased in force until the 24th, when it blew 

 furiously, occasioned much alarm, and some damai^e was sustained. On the 

 25th, and through the night follo\ving, it continued with unusual violence. On 

 the morning of Friday, the 26th, it raged so fearfully that only few people had 

 courage to venture abnad. Towards evening it rose still higher ; the night 

 setting in with excessive darkness added general horror to the scene, and 

 prevented any from seeking security abroad from their homes, had that been 

 possible. The extraordinary power of the wind created a noise, hoarse and 

 dreadful. Tike thunder, which carried terror to every ear, and appalled every 

 heart. Tliere were also appearances in the heavens that resembled lightning. 

 " The air," says a writer at the time, " was full of meteors and fiery vapours; 

 yet," he adds, " I am of opinion, that there was really no lightning, ia the 

 common acceptation of the term ; for the clouds, that flew with such violence 

 through the air, were not to my observation such as are usually freighted 

 with thunder and lightning ; the hurries nature was then in, do not consist 

 with the system of thunder.". Some imagined the tempest svas accompanied 

 with an earthquake. " Horror and confusion seized upon all, whether on 

 snore or at sea : no pen can describe it, no tongue can express it, no thongh 

 can conceive it, unless theirs who were in the extremity of it ; and who, be. 

 ing touched with a due sense of the sparing mercy of their Maker, retain the 

 deep impressions of his goodness upon their minds though the danger be past 

 To venture abroad was to rush into instant death, and to stay within afforded 

 uo other prospect than that of being buried under the ruins of a fulliD),' habi. 



X. 3 



