a ftngular African Wind. ^ 
acquiring half the ufual fize. The natives take this oppor- 
tunity of the extreme drynefs of the grafs and young trees to 
fet fire to them, efpecially near their roads, not only to keep 
thofe roads open to travellers, but to deftroy the fhel ter which 
long grafs, and thickets of young trees, would afford to (hulk- 
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 efcapeis, on difcovering 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. nor r is 
informs me, even clofely (hut up in a trunk, and lying among 
his cloaths, were bent as if they had been expofed to the fire. 
Houlhold furniture is alfo much damaged : the pannels of doors 
and of wainfcot 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 
(ides and decks of (hips are much injured and become very 
leaky, though the planks are two or three inches in thicknefs. 
Iron-bound 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 moiftened, the hoops fly off* 
The parching effe&s 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 third, as to remove a painful aridity in 
the fauces . The lips and nofe become fore, and even chapped ; 
and though the air be cool, yet there is a troublefome fenlation 
of prickling heat on the (kin. If the Harmattan continues 
Vol. LXXI. H four 
