146 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777. veins of coarfe quartz , which commonly follow the direc- 
'Febmar) . ^ t j on 0 f the other; though they fometimes interfecft it. 
The mould, or foil, which covers this, is alfo of a yellowifh 
call, not unlike marl; and is commonly from a foot to two, 
or more, in thicknefs. 
The quality of this foil is bell indicated by the luxu¬ 
riant growth of its produ&ions. For the hills (except 
a few toward the fea, which are covered with fmaller 
bullies) are one continued forefl of lofty trees, flourilhing 
with a vigour almofl fuperior to any thing that imagina¬ 
tion can conceive, and affording an auguft profpedt to thofe 
who are delighted with the grand and beautiful works of 
nature. 
The agreeable temperature of the climate, no doubt, 
contributes much to this uncommon flrength in vegetation. 
For, at this time, though anfwering to our month of Au¬ 
guft, the weather was never difagreeably warm; nor did 
it raife the thermometer higher than 66°. The winter, 
alfo, feems equally mild with refpedt to cold: for in June 
1773, which correfponds to our December, the mercury 
never fell lower than 48°; and the trees, at that time, re¬ 
tained their verdure, as if in the Summer feafon ; fo that, 
I believe, their foliage is never fhed, till pufhed off by the 
fucceeding leaves in fpring. 
The weather, in general, is good ; hut fometimes windy, 
with heavy rain ; which, however, never lafts above a day; 
nor does it appear that it is ever exceflive. For there are 
no marks of torrents rulhing down the hills, as in many 
countries ; and the brooks, if we may judge from their 
channels, feem never to be greatly increafed. I have ob- 
ferved, in the four different times of my being here, that 
the winds from the South Eaftward are commonly mode¬ 
rate, 
