307 



ience, that " the water is blown away to such a de- 

 gree, from the coast of Syria and Phcenice, that several 

 ranges of rocks, which in westerly winds, lie conceal- 

 ed, do now become dry and leave exposed to the wa- 

 ter fowl, the Urchins, Limpets, and such like shell- 

 fish, as stick upon them."* 



He further says, " I observed, in the port of Lati- 

 kea, that there was two feet less of water whilst these 

 winds raged, than afterwards when the weather was 

 moderate, and the winds blew softly from the western 



quarter.' f 



At the period of the autumnal equinox, the wind 

 changes to the north and west, and is not only more 

 frequent, but blows stronger. These are succeeded by 

 the west and south west winds, " which prevail from 

 November to February,'^ During their prevalence, 

 as in almost all other latitudes, they are accompanied 

 by violent gales, such as are described by travellers, 

 when whole caravans are buried up in crossing the 

 deserts. 



These latter winds are left to sweep, uncontrolled, 

 not only over the wide expanse of the Mediterranean, 

 but over the whole northern coast of Africa ; the de- 

 serts of Saharra, Barca, Saccara, and Lybia, from the 

 dry and desolated surfaces of which they are, in one 

 place or other, almost constantly driving the sand in 

 torrents, still farther on by each succeeding blast. 



* Show's Travels, p 361- t Do. p. 362, 



| Volney's Travels, page 200. 



