NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



49 



until nearly sun-set. Then the Sea-breeze commonly ceases ; a copious, 

 but temporary dew falls, and the most oppressive hours of the twenty- 

 four begin. Yet, when the moon is in her first or second quarter, the 

 air is generally serene, and the softened scenery enchanting ; Zephyrs and 

 Fairies, and all the imaginary beings of Poets seem to play around us ; the 

 passions of men are hushed ; we hear only their distant laugh and 

 cheerful songs. The mind is soothed and awake ; pleased with itself and 

 all around is susceptible of those impressions alone, which convey to it 

 an idea of Elysian pleasures. At this season, gentle exercise is usually 

 taken in the open air, and continued until the hour renders it necessary 

 to close the house, and retire to rest, in a stagnant atmosphere and 

 oppressive rooms. 



With the advancing year, the season becomes more intensely hoti 

 About the middle of September, a few drops were first noticed, and not long- 

 after the settled weather broke up at night, with a heavy thunder storm, 

 and a great fall of rain. I had previously slept with my window opeUj 

 for the sake of air • but now received an effectual admonition of the 

 imprudence of continuing such a practice. Soon the heat was sensibly 

 diminished, and about noon every day the sky became overcast with 

 clouds, highly charged with electric matter. They always formed them- 

 selves in the West, and daily assumed a more dense appearance ; until, 

 at length, the thunder was heard to roll at a distance ; early in the after- 

 noon the noise increased, the lightning became vivid and sudden, and the 

 intervals between the flashes and their rattling report shorter, more 

 silent and awful. The rain fell heavily, the lightning darted splendidly 

 amidst its large drops, and every street became a river. By degrees, the 

 turbulent crackling of the storm still advanced, until a crash so astounding 

 was heard, as though the frame of heaven were rent into a thousand 

 fragments. Such a burst was seldom repeated, and seemed fully sufficient 

 of itself to break the whole mass of cloud. The storm subsided by 

 gradations similar to those, with which it had advanced, and by five 

 o'clock the sky was again serene and bright. 



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