54 Dr. dobson’s Account of the Harmattan, 
inquiries. 44 I have not much new,” fays Mr. norris, “ on 
44 thefe points, fave the general teftimony of the natives in con-' 
44 firmatiori of what I have already communicated ; and that I 
44 had been very ill myfelf for nine days with a Yemittcnt fever 
44 this voyage, of which I recovered immediately upon the Har- 
44 mattan beginning to blow ; whether from the medicines 
44 which I had taken, or from the alteration in the ftate of the 
44 atmofphere, I pretend not to determine'. I now learned, fof 
44 the firft time, that the Harmattan is ’noted for contributing 
44 much to the cure of ulcers, as well as cutaneous eruptions. 
Mr. norris is forrv to be obliged 1 to dideiit from fo reipcftable 
2m authority as that of Dr. lind, who fpeaks of the Harmattnri 
as 44 fatal and malignant ; that its noxious vapours are deftruc- 
* 4 tive to Blacks as well as Whites ; and that the mortality 
u which it occasions is in proportion to the denfity and duration 
44 of the fog.” The baneful effedts here pointed out proceed 
from the periodical rains which fill in March, April, &c. and 
which are ufhered in by the Tornadoes, or ftrong gufts of wind 
from the N.E. and E N.E. accompanied with violent thunder 
and lightning, and very heavy fhowers.' The earth drenched 
by thefe fhowers, and adted upon with an intenfe lblar heat as 
foon as the ftorm is over, fends forth fuch noifome vapours as 
ftrike the noftrils with a rrl'oft offenfive flench, and occafion 
bilious vomitings, fluxes, and putrid fevers. Belides thefe va- 
pours, which are annual, there appears to be a collection of 
ilill more peftiferous matter, confined for a longer time, and 
ifluing from the earth after an interval of five, fix, or leven 
years. 44 The periods,” fays Mr. norris, 44 which I remem- 
44 her to have been thus marked, were in 1756, when Governor 
46 mslvill and rnoft of the gentlemen and foldiers at Cape 
54 4 Coaft, died; in 1763, 1769, and 1775. The mortality 
in 
a 
