54 Dr. Dobson’s Account of the Harrnattan, 
inquiries. “ I have not much new,” fays Mr. norms,, u on 
“ thefe points, fave the general teflimony of the natives in con* 
* s firmation of what I have already communicated ; and that I 
“ had been very ill rnyfelf for nine days with a remittent fever 
<£ this voyage, of which I recovered immediately upon the Hat- 
M rnattan beginning to blow ; whether from the medicines 
“ which I had taken, or from the alteration in the {late of the 
44 atmofphere, I pretend not to determine. I now learned, for 
64 the firfc time, that the Harrnattan is noted for contributing 
44 much to the cure of ulcers, as well as cutaneous eruptions.” 
Mr. norris is forry to be obliged to diffent from fo refpeCtable 
an authority as that of Dr. Lind, who fpeaks of the Harrnattan 
as 44 fatal and malignant ; that its noxious vapours are defitruc- 
4 4 tive to Blacks as well as Whites j and that the mortality 
44 which it occalions is in proportion to the denfity and duration 
45 of the fog.” The baneful effeCts here pointed out proceed 
from the periodical rains which fall in March, April, &c. and 
which are ulhered in by the Tornadoes, or brong gufts of wind 
from the N.E. and E.N.E. accompanied with violent thunder 
and lightning, and very heavy {bowers. The earth drenched 
by thefe blowers, and abed upon with an intenfe folar heat as 
foon as the form is over, fends forth fuch noifome vapours as 
ftrike the nobrils with a moft offenfive bench, and oecafion 
bilious vomitings, fluxes, and putrid fevers. Befides thefe va- 
pours, which are annual, there appears to be a collection of 
bill more peftiferous matter, confined for a longer time, and 
ibuing from the earth after an interval of five, fix, or feven 
years. 44 The periods,” fays Mr. norris, a which I remem- 
44 her to have been thus marked, were in 1 756, when Governor 
€i melvill and moil of the gentlemen and foldiers at Cape 
Coab, died; in 1763, 1769, and 1 775. The mortality 
44 in 
