SUMATRA. 
rounded it, was pcrfe^Iy vifibie to me* It: fcemed to have taken its rife 
in Bencoolen Bay^ its courfe tending In a diredion from thence acrofs 
the peninfiila on which the fettlement of Fort Marlborough ftaods, but 
fecfbre it reached the fea on the other fide, it vanilhed by degrees, with- 
out any confequent fall of water, or other deftru^live effe^, collecting 
itfelf into the body of the cloud from which it depended. 
Thunder and lightning are there fo very frequent, as fcarce to at- Jj'^^^^"^^ 
tra6t the attenticm ofperfons long refident in the country* During the 
north weft monfoon, the explofions are extremely violent ; the forked 
lightning ihoocs in all dlre^ions, and the whole iky feems on fire; whilil 
the ground is agitated in a degree, little inferior to the motion of an 
earthquake. In the fouth eaft monfoon, the lightning is more conftanr^ 
but the corufcaiw^ l^/q fif^rre or brighr, and the thunder is fcarccly 
audible. It would* feeni that tlxe confequences of rhefe awful meteors are 
not fo fatal there as in Europe ; few inftances occurring of lives being loJil:^ 
"or buildings deftroycd by the explofions, although electrical conductors 
itavc never been employed. Perhaps the paucity of inhabitants, in pro- 
portion to the extent of country, and the unfubftantial materials of the 
houfes, may contribute to this obfervation. I have fecn fome trees, how- 
ever, that have been Ihattered on Sumatra by the aCtion of lightning. 
The caufcs w^hich produce a fucceffive variety of feafons in the parts of jvjonfoona^ 
the earth without the tropics,, having no relation or refpcCt to the region 
of the torrid /.vxv^, n difierent order takes place there, and the year is diltin- 
guifhed into two dlvifions, ufually called tiie rainy and dry monfoons,* 
from. the weather peculiar to each* In the feveral parts of India thefe 
monfoons are governed by various particular laws, in regard to the time 
o£ their commencement, period of duration, circumftances attending, 
their change, aad direction of the prevailing wind, according to the na* 
tiareand fituation of the lands and coafls. where their influence is felt* The 
i 
* The urm " Monfocrn,'' appears to be a comiptioa of the word Mmfemi' which, both 
in ATabic and Malay, Sgnlfics a jcar. Tmuitt another Maby vmtd for fcafon cr year, rdpeffcs ■ 
tlicir harreA** 
E farther 
