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power has undoubtedly a great fliare In the defcent of 
rain, which hardly ever happens, if the air and 
eledtrical apparatus be fufficiently dry, without mani- 
feft figns of eledtricity in the air. Hence it is, that 
in Lima, where there is no rain, they never have 
any lightning or thunder {a) ^ and that, as M. Tourne- 
fort was affured, it never rains in the Levant but in 
winter, and that this is the only feafon in which any 
thunder is heard (^). If this appearance therefore 
could be accounted for, it would probably help us to 
fome more fatisfadtory caufes of the fufpenlion of the 
clouds, and of the defcent of rain. 
(«) See the Englifh tranflation of the voyage of Don George 
Juan and Don Antonio de Ulloa to South America, vol. IL 
book i. chap. 6. p. 69 and 79. 
{b) Voyage du Levant, let. X. p. 429. ‘ 
XLVIIL Aft 
