Page:Colnett - Voyage to the South Pacific (IA cihm 33242).djvu/107

 On the eventh of Augut, we aw the famous burning mountain of Guata-mala. From that time, to our croing the gulf of Tecoantepeak, and reaching point Angels in Latitude 16° and Longitude 100°, there was, for nine days, little or no ceation of calms, and the change that followed was a eries of tornados, torrents of rain and tremendous thunder and lightning, more violent than any I ever heard or aw on the coat of Guinea, or off the capes of Virginia in North America. If there was any difference, in the fervid everity of the eaon, during the twenty-four hours, it was in favor of the day; for in the night the lightning and thunder were mot violent. From un-et till un-rie, the heavens were one entire flame, which was heightened, by the frequent exploions of the burning mountains. This awful and alarming tate of the weather, was accompanied with an almot inufferable heat, and a uffocating, ulphureous air. From the light airs, calms and variable currents, we had little hopes to hift our ituation. Thus urrounded, as we were, with thee oppreive circumtances, and divided only by a few leagues acros the main, from the bay of Honduras, it was impoible to uppres an occaional wih that we were there. A traveller that had viited Peru or its coats, (where the dews of bounteous Heaven upply every call of rain, and where thunder and lightning are eldom or