uncommon Darknefi, on May 19, 1780. 245 
** Odtober) we had almoft total darknefs for the moft of the 
* day. I got up atday break. About ten minutes after, I ob- 
** ferved it got no lighter than before. The fame darknefs con- 
** tinued until nine o'clock, when it cleared up a little. We 
** then, for the {pace of about a quarter of an hour, faw the 
“ body of the fun, which appeared as red as blood, and more 
** than three times as large as ufual. The air, all this time, 
* which was very denfe, was of a dirty yellowifh colour. I 
* was. obliged to light candles to fee to dine, at one o'clock, 
** notwithftanding the table was placed clofe by two large win- 
* dows. About three, the darknefs became more horrible ; 
* which augmented until half paft three, when the wind breez- 
** ed up from the S. W. and brought on fome drops of rain, 
* or rather fulphur, and dirt; for it appeared more like the 
** Jatter than the former, both in {mell and quality. I took a 
** leaf of clean paper, and held it out in the rain, which ren- 
*dered. it black whenever the drops fell upon it ; but, when 
* held near the fire, turned to a yellow colour ; and when 
** burned, it fizzed on the paper like wet powder. During this 
** fhower, the air was almoft fuffocating with a ftrong fulphu- 
** reous fmell.—It cleared up a little after the rain. ced 
« There were various conjectures about the caufe of this na- 
«s tural incident. The Indians, and vulgar among the French, 
* fid, that the Engli/b, which lately arrived from Nragara in 
« the veffel, had brought the plague with them. Others ima- 
** gined, it might have been occafioned by the burning of the 
** woods : but I think it moft probable, that it might have 
** been occafioned by the eruption of fome volcano, or fubter- 
** raneous fire, whereby the fulphureous matter may have been 
** emitted in the n: and contained pum until, meeting with 
“ fom: 
