12 
S U 'M A T R A. 
warming tbemfelves ; a pra^ice unknown in the other parts of theiiland. 
To the cold alfo they attribute the backwardnefs in growth of the 
coco-nut tree, which is fometiincs tweuty or thirty years in coming to 
perfe^ion, and often fails to produce fruit. Situations are uni-' 
formly colder ia proportion to their height above the level of the fea, 
unlefs where local circmnilances, fuch as the neighbourhood of fandy 
plains, contribute to produce a contrary effect; but on Sumatra the cooU 
nefs of the air is promoted by the quality of the fail, which is clayey,, 
and the conftant and ftrong verdure that prevails, which, by abforbing the 
fun*s rays, prevents the effedt of their rcfledlion and refra(9:toii. The clr- 
cumftance of the ifland being fo narrow contributes alfo to its general tern* 
peratenefs, as wind directly, or recently from the fea is never poCefled of 
any violent degree of heat; which it ufually acquires in pafling over large 
trad:s of land in the trooical cliJr^il^^« <iQa hail are totally 
unknown to the inhabitants** The atmofphere is in common more- 
cloudy than in Europe, which is fenfibly perceived, from the infrequency 
of clear ftar-llght nights. It may proceed from the greater rarefadtion 
of the air occafiooing the clouds to defcend lower and become more 
opake, or merely from the ftronger heat exhaling from the land and 
fea, a thicker and more plentiful vapour. The fog, called cabci^t by the 
natives, which rifes every morning between the hills, is denfe to a fur* 
piizing degree i the extreinities of it, even when near at hand, benig 
perfectly defined; and It feidom is obferved to difpctfc till about three 
hours after fun rife. 
That extraordinary phoenomenon J fo well known and accurately def- 
cribed; the water fpout, frequently makes its appearance in thefe parts^ 
and not feidom on fhore. The largcft and raoll difthuft I had ever an^ 
opportunity of feeing, I met whilft on horfeback* 1 was (q near to it, 
that the inward gyration, as di:0:ipd: from the volumn which fur- 
f . The hill people in the country of Lampcon, fp&ak of » pectiliar kind of rain tbat falls ihere, 
which fome have fuppofcd to be what we tall fleet 5 but the fa£lt is not fuSicienily eftabliJied j 
and perhaps what the coumrymen mean, is nothing more than the tbick mifb or cloudsj that.ufii* 
vlS^r eacoinpaft th« top« of high hillsi prectpitaEbg in raio. 
rounded 
