Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/27

 Rh

The Tides here are scarce to be taken notice of, there being very little increase or decrease of the water, and that depending mostly, if not altogether, on the Winds, so that the Land-Winds driving off the water of the Island, makes a Foot, two, or more Ebb, which is most apparent in the mornings: in the Harbour of Port-Royal one may see the Coral-Rocks then sensibly nearer the surface of the water, and all along the Sea-shore, the water is gone for a small space, leaving it dry, and this much more on the South side of the Island, when the Norths blow. On the contrary the Sea-breeze driving the water on the shore of the island, makes the Flood, so that in the evening it may be said to be high water, especially if a South, or other Wind, blows violently into the Land for some time together, with which the water comes in, and is much higher than ordinary. The Breezes being stronger or weaker according to the Moons Age, it may be thought the Tides or Currents may follow that; but I rather believe they only are the effect of the Winds.

The outward face of the Earth seems to be different here from what I could observe in Europe, the Vallies in this Island being very level, with little or no rising Ground, or small Hills, and without Rocks, or Stones. The Mountainous part for the most part is very steep, and furrowed by very deep Gullies on the North and South sides of the highest Hills, on each side of which are very great Precipices. The Ridges left are where the High-ways are made, to pass from one side of the Island to the other. The Gullies are made here by frequent, and often very violent Rains, which every day almost fall on these Mountains, and first making a small Trough or Course for themselves, wash away afterwards whatever comes in their way and make their Channel extraordinary steep.

The greatest part of the high Land of this Island is stony, rocky, or clayey; these sorts of Soil resist the Rains, and so are not carried down violently with them into the Plains, as are the Mould proper for Tillage, and other more friable Earths, either natural to these places, or made of the faln and rotten Leaves, and Trunks of Trees, or Dust carried by Wind and Rain; hence it is that in those mountainous places, one shall have very little or none of such Earths, but either a tenacious Clay, or a Honey-Comb, or other Rock, on which no Earth appears; and this is generally true, unless in some few places where the Rain may carry some of this Earth, and there leave it, the situation of the place being the cause of such an accident, by being a bottom among Hills.