C 3 8 3 '3 
XXV. Account of a. Phenomenon obferved upon the IJland of 
Sumatra. By William Marfdeiv, Ejf ; communicated by Srr 
Jofeph Banks, P. R. S. 
URING rny refidence on the ifland of Sumatra in the 
Eaft Indies, I had occafion to obferve a phenomenon fin- 
gular, I believe, in its kind, an account of which may not per- 
haps be uni-nterefting to the curious. 
In the year 1775 the S.E. or dry monfoon, fet in about the 
middle of June, and continued with very little intermiffion till 
the month of March in the following year. So long and 
fevere a drought had not been experienced then in the memory 
the oldeft man. The verdure of the ground was burnt up, the 
trees were ftripped of their leaves, the fprings of water failed, 
and the earth every where gaped in fiwures. Far fome time a 
copious dew falling in the night fupplied the deficiency of rain ; 
but this did not laft long : yet a thick fog, which rendered the 
neighbouring hills invifible for months together, and nearly 
obfcured the fun, never ceafed to hang over the land, and add 
a gloom to the profpedt already but too melancholy. The 
Europeans on the coaft luffered extremely by ficknefs ; about a 
fourth part of the whole number being carried off by fevers 
Read May 24, 1781. 
Caroline-ftne 1 :, 
Feb. 24, 17 Si. 
£ e e 2 
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