74 



SIX MONTHS TN MEXICO. 



several whirlwinds passing in different direc- 

 tions, and carrying along the sand and gravel 

 to an astonishing height. They looked like 

 smoke in the air, and some of them appeared 

 to be so near that they rather alarmed us: 

 a gentleman informed us that they often 

 overtake the traveller unawares, and that he 

 had witnessed hats thus lifted from the head 

 and borne away for miles. 



At one period we noticed two or three of 

 these whirlwinds following each other like 

 columns of smoke, and losing themselves in 

 the clouds. As we came to the close of our 

 day's journey, the road approached near to the 

 volcanic rocks, vegetation again began to ap- 

 pear, and we observed a number of the trees 

 that produce the gum dragon, and various 

 aloes ; we also saw several eagles, hawks, and 



on this subject, see the Supplement to the Encyclopaedia 

 Britannica, under the head Meteorology; and in the 

 Philosophical Transactions of 1800, are some pleasing- ex- 

 periments on the subject, by Dr. Wollaston. 



