BOOK II.] History of Nature. 87 



open the Sky. And Eudoxus is of opinion (if we list to ob- 

 serve the least Revolutions) that after the End of every 

 fourth Year, not only all Winds, but, for the most Part, other 

 Tempests and Constitutions of the Weather, return again to 

 the same Course as before. And always the Lustrum 1 or Com- 

 putation of the five Years, beginneth at the Leap Year, when 

 the Dog-star doth arise. And thus much concerning general 

 Winds. 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 



Of Sudden Blasts. 



Now will we speak of sudden Blasts : which being raised 

 (as hath been said before) by Exhalations of the Earth, and 

 cast down again, in the meanwhile appear of many Fashions, 

 enclosed within a thin Course of Clouds. For such as be wan- 

 dering and rushing in Manner of Land-floods (as some Men 

 were of opinion, as we have shewed), bring forth Thunder 

 and Lightning. But if they come with a greater Force and 

 Violence, and cleave a dry Cloud asunder, they breed a 

 Storm, which of the Greeks is called Ecnephias: but if the 

 Breach be not great, so that the Wind be constrained to re- 

 volve in his Descent without Fire, that is to say, Lightning, 

 it makes a Whirlwind called Typhon, that is to say, the 

 vibrated Ecnephias. This snatches with it a Piece broken 

 out of a congealed cold Cloud, turning and rolling it round, 

 and with that Weight inaketh its own Fall more heavy, and 

 changeth from Place to Place with a vehement Whirling. 

 It is the greatest Danger that Sailors have, breaking not 

 only their Yards, but also wrecking the very Ships to twisted 

 Fragments : and yet a small Matter is the Remedy for it, 

 namely, the casting of Vinegar out against it as it cometh ; 

 which is of very cold Nature. The same Storm beating upon 

 a Thing is itself smitten back again with Violence, and 

 snatcheth up whatever it meeteth in the Way aloft into the 

 Sky, carrying it back, and swallowing it up on high. But if 

 it break out from a greater Hole of the said Cloud, by it so 



1 This space of time came round at the beginning of every fifth year ; 

 at which period, originally, the census was taken, and the taxes fixed 

 until the recurrence of the same period. Wern. Club. 



