acquiring half the u final fize. 
a tinmlar African Wind, 
49 
The natives take this oppor- 
tunity of the extreme drynefs of the grafs and young trees to 
fet fire to them, efpeeially near their roads, not only to keep 
thofe roads open to travellers, but to deilroy the fhelter which 
long grafs, and thickets .of young trefe.s, would afford to fkulk- 
ing parties of their enemies. A fire thus lighted flies with fuch 
rapidity as to endanger thofe who travel : in that fituation a 
common method of efcape is, on difeovering a fire to windward, 
to fet the grafs on fire to leeward, and then follow your own fire. 
There are other extraordinary effects produced by the extreme 
drynefs of the Harmattan. The covers of books, Mr. nqrris 
informs me, even clofely fhut up in a trunk, and lying among 
his cloaths, were bent as if they had been expofed to the fire. 
Houfhold furniture is alfo much damaged : the pannels of doors 
and of wainfeot fplit, and any veneered work flies to pieces. 
The joints of a well-laid floor of feafoned wood open fuffi- 
ciently to lay one’s finger in them ; but become as clofe as be- 
fore on the ceafing of the Harmattan. The feams alfo in the 
fides and decks of fhips are much injured and become very- 
leaky, though the planks are two or three inches in thicknefs. 
Iron-hound calks require the hoops to be frequently driven 
tighter; and a calk of rum or brandy, with wooden hoops; 
can fcarcely be preferved ; for, unlefs a perfon attends to keep 
it moifiened, the hoops fly off. 
The parching efiedls of this wind are likewife evident on the 
external parts of the body. The eyes, noftrils, lips, and pa- 
late, are rendered dry and uneafy, and drink is often required, 
not fo much to quench thirfi:, as to remove a painful aridity in 
th z fauces, • The lips and nofe become fore, and even chapped ; 
and though the air he cool, yet there is a troublefome fenfation 
of prickling heat on the Ikin. If the Harmattan continues 
H 
four 
