-3*4 Mr* mars de n’s Account of a Phenomenon 
and other bilious diftempers, the depreffion of fpirits which: 
they laboured under not a little contributing to haften the fatal' 
effeCts. The natives alfo died in great numbers. 
In the month of November 1775,.. the dry feafon having, 
then exceeded its ufuaf period, and the S.E. winds continuing 
with unremitting violence, the lea was obferved to be covered, 
to the d.iftance of a mile,, and in fome places a league from 
fhore, with fifth floating on the furface. Great quantities of 
them were at the fame time driven on the beach or left there 
by the tide, fome quite alive, others dying, but the greateft part 
quite dead. The fifh thus found were not of one but various fpe- 
cies, both large and fmall, flat and round, the Cat-hfh and Mullet 
being generally the moft prevalent. The numbers were prodigi- 
ous, and overfpread the fhore to the extent of fome degrees ; of 
this I had ocular proof or certain information, and probably they 
extended a confiderable way farther than I had opportunity of 
making enquiry. Their fir ft appearance was fudden ; but 
though the numbers diminifhed, they continued to be thrown 
up, in fome parts of the coaft r for at leaft a month, furnifhing, 
the inhabitants with food, which, though attended with no 
immediate ill confequence, probably contributed to the un- 
healthinefs fo feverely felt. No alteration in the weather had 
been remarked for many days previous to their appearance. 
The thermometer flood as ufual- at the time of year at about 
85°* 
Various were the conjectures formed as to the caufe of this - 
extraordinary phenomenon, and alrnoft as various and contra- 
dictory were the coiifequences deduced by the natives from an 
omen fo portentous ; fome inferring the continuance, and 
others, with equal plaufibility, a relief from the drought. 
With refpecl to the caufe, I mu ft confefs myfelf.much at a. 
