Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/59

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by me of another dreadful Earthquake which happened afterwards in this Island in the Philosophical Transactions, Numb. 209. p.77.

Thunder is here almost every day in the Mountains, with the Rains there, so that any person in the Plains may hear it, as well as see the Rain. It does not so ordinarily accompany those Rains that come from the Sea, although when it does 'tis very violent, and has, on the several substances it meets with, either animate or inanimate, the same effects as follow Thunder in Europe.

Lightning for the most part precedes Thunder in this Island, as elsewhere: and if it be fair Weather, especially in the hottest Seasons, it lightens almost all the night over, first in one part of the Sky or Horizon, out of some Clouds, and then out of others opposite to them, as it were answering one another, as it happens often in the Summer in England, &c. and gives occasion to people of fancy to foretel strange Wars, &c. when they please, making these Apparitions in the Air, Soldiers in Battalia, &c.

Falling Stars are here as common as elsewhere.

If the Seasons of the year be to be counted from the Spring of Vegetables, the Spring will be after every Season or great Rain, every thing then springing up after much Rain, so that during the time of such Rains is reckoned the Winter time. But they ought rather to follow the nearness or distance of the Sun, and so they will have the same time for the Seasons as in Europe; and indeed although the visible effects are not so plain, having the Sun when most distant so near them; yet that those times are more to be counted so than any others, is plain from this, that in the months of November, December and January, the time of the Suns greatest Southern distance from them, a great many Trees shed their Leaves, although they are destitute of them, neither all at a time, nor for many weeks, the warm Sun, even then, when farthest off, cloathing them speedily with new Garments. In the months of February, March or April, is the best time for planting Yams or Perennial Beans, they then, viz. in the Spring, taking better Root, and thriving more than at other times. Besides the Dog-days, or the time near them, are, as other where, very infamous for their sultry heat.

Their Agriculture is but very small, their Soil being as yet so fruitful as not to need manuring or dunging their Land, although they begin to lay by their Dung for future use, they seeing by the example of their Neighbours in Barbados, that they may need it. And even they themselves here have in some places fail'd of Sugar-works, as near the Angels, where the ground had been cultivated or manur'd before their coming to the Island. It was, and is among several, the custom to burn their Trash, which is the Marc or re-