VOL. XLIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 711 



are observable on the sea-coasts and shores. In places where these flow, the sea 

 rises in an extraordinary manner, becoming very furious without any apparent 

 cause, and without being moved by any wind ; the waves rise and open very 

 high, and break against the shore, with such violence, that it is impossible for 

 vessels to land. These he thinks are chiefly caused by the pressure of heavy 

 black clouds sometimes seen hanging over an island or the sea. As to other 

 currents in the main seas, or in other particular situations, as the gut and the 

 coasts of the Mediterranean, Dr. P. ascribes them to the action of the winds, &c. 



Hurricanes are foreseen by a calm, and a frequent shifting of breezes from all 

 points; the setting sun of a blood-red; little clouds moving with great rapidity; 

 the sea-birds, called frigates, and many other kinds, quit the air, and seek the 

 shore. By these signs, together with the season in which these happen the 

 hurricanes are expected; proper precautions are then taken to avoid the fury of 

 the winds; the houses are propped, the windows and doors are barred up, and 

 papers and other valuable moveables are secured in chests. Soon after, a north 

 breeze springs up, which comes to the north-east, and from south to south-east; 

 the air is darkened by one continued thick cloud, which increases the horrors of 

 the night ; for it often happens, that these tempests come in the night, and con- 

 tinue all the next day. In the last hurricane he saw, the wind stood at north- 

 east, and blew with such violence, that the largest trees were torn up by the 

 roots, their trunks broken to pieces, and not a leaf left on those other trees which 

 yielded to the fury of the winds , the houses were thrown down, and the tops of 

 the sugar-mills, which are conical, and less susceptible of being thrown down, 

 were crushed to pieces ; scarcely any thing remained standing on the ground. 

 These ftirious winds were accompanied with a violent rain, which resembled the 

 mist made by the agitation of waves, or like waters kept up by the wind. The 

 tempest lasts till day-light, and sometimes continues pretty far in the day. In 

 that in 1740, towards 8 o'clock in the morning, it grew suddenly calm for a 

 quarter of an hour, and then returned again blowing from the south, with such 

 violence, that the buildings and trees, which were destroyed by the north wind 

 before, were blown about, and moved by the first blast of that from the south. 

 At the end of these there appears lightning, and we hear the noise of thunder : 

 these are the signs of the tempest's being at an end ; for the wind softens gra- 

 dually, and all becomes quiet. 



After these hurricanes the forests appeared only like a parcel of ship-masts or 

 poles standing ; all the trees being stripped of their leaves', and their branches 

 broken off^ made a dreadful appearance, especially in these countries, where a 

 perpetual verdure adorns the trees and fields. Every one is employed in repair- 

 ing his losses, and mending the dismal remains of the frightful wreck. 



