CH.iV. SOUTH AMERICA. 9^ 



■want for plenty of good pafture. It is certain that 

 there are no horfes or afies bred here, which tends to 

 confirm the opinion that this climate checks the ge- 

 neration of creatures produced in a more benign or 

 lefs noxious air. However, not to rely on the com- 

 mon opiniofi, we enquired of fome intelligent perfons ; 

 who differed but very little from the vulgar, and even 

 confirmed what they afferted, by many known fadls, 

 and experiments performed by themfelves. 



The liquor in Mr. Reaumur's thermometer, on the 

 4th of December 1735, at fix in the morning Hood at 

 1 02 1, and at noon rofe to 1023. 



The heat here is excelTive, augmented by the fitua- 

 tion of the town, which is furrounded with high moun- 

 tains, without any interval for the winds, whereby it 

 might be refrefhed. The trees on the mountains Hand 

 fo thick, as to intercept the rays of the fun : and, con- 

 fequently, hinder them from drying the earth under 

 their branches ; hence copious exhalations, which form 

 large clouds, and precipitate in violent torrents of rain-, 

 jthefe are no fooner over, than the fun breaks forth 

 afrefh, and fliines with his former fplendor ; though 

 fcarce has the adlivity of his rays dried the furface of 

 the ground not covered by the trees, than the atmo- 

 fphere is again crowded by another colle(5lion of thick 

 vapours, and the fun again concealed. In this man- 

 ner it continues during the whole day : the night is 

 alfo fubjed to the like viciflltudes ; but without the 

 ieaft diminution of heat in either. 



These torrents of rain, which, by their fuddennefs 

 and impetuofity, feem to threaten a fecond deluge, arp 

 accompanied with fuch tempefts of .thunder and light- 

 ping, as muft daunt even the moft refolute ; and this, 

 dreadful noifc is prolonged by repercufTions from the 

 caverns of the mountains, like the explofion of a can- 

 non, the rumbling of which is heard for a minute after. 

 To this may alfo be added the howlings and fhrieks of 

 xhe mpljifudes of monkies of all kinds, which live in 

 , " ' the 



