Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/23

 Rh

rising gradually as the Sun rises, is another cause of this Air's being the more temperate. There is before Rain, very often here, a great heat (although the Sun be over-clouded) as well as uneasiness on Men's Bodies, especially those that are sickly, which so soon as the Rain falls is quite removed. This is common to other parts of the world as well as this place, and seems to proceed from moisture, or rather from the spring of the humours of the Body distending the Vessels, the Atmosphere being then lighter, and more moist. The Breeze from Land at night is very cooling, though thought very unhealthy by the Spaniards, on what account I know not. 'Tis usually argued from Irons rusting very soon here, that the Air is corroding; but this I believe comes from the Heat, whereby most People sweat, which being salt and very penetrating corrodes the Iron, and rusts it when they touch it, or keep it in their Pockets. On the Mountains and high Land 'tis much cooler than in the Valleys; in these last the Sun Beams are reflected, from the sides of the neighbouring rising Grounds so on one another, that they seem to make in several places a kind of Focus as in a Burning-Glass. I never found more heat here than as in some Valleys near Montpelier where the situation of the Hills in their neighbourhood occasioned excessive heat. The Savannas are here likewise the more Temperate; because they are places where few Sun Beams are reflected on the Body, having few small rising Hills to interrupt the course of the Breezes, or reflect the Sun Beams.

The Air here, notwithstanding the heat, is very healthy, I have known Blacks one hundred and twenty years of Age, and one hundred years old is very common amongst Temperate Livers.

The Mercury in the Barometer stands at about the same heighth and has the same alterations as in England, though it change not so often as in England.

The Air is here not more Nitrous that in England, nor is there any Salepetre to be had from any natural Earth; but some kind of Tincal or Borax out of a red Earth, which is improper for the culture of Sugar-Canes. What Salepetre is to be had here, is from the Earth dug out of Caves where Indians were buried, or where Bats, and their Dung, are in great quantities. This I am certain of, because the Duke of Albemarle carried several people to Jamaica on purpose to try to make Saltpetre, having had a Patent for that Design.

'Tis frequent, riding in the night, to meet with here and there an hot Blast, for some few paces of Earth you ride over; these Blasts, which are also met with in Egypt, and other parts of the World, are counted very unhealthy, as are also Norths, which blow clear over the Island for a Month together, about Christmas, in which time, in the North side, no Canes will grow, but if planted, the Worms eat them.