Chapter XI: Part 11

_Snakes_, about seven several sorts. The Rattle-Snake, so called from certain Rattles at the end of the Tail: These Rattles seem like so many perished Joints, being a dry Husk over certain Joints, and the common Opinion is, that there are as many Rattles or Joints, as the Snake is years old. I kill'd four or five, and they had each eleven, twelve, or thirteen Joints each; but the young Ones have no Rattles of a year or two, but they may be known notwithstanding, being very regularly diced or checker'd, black and gray on the backs. The Old shake and shiver these Rattles with wonderful nimbleness when they are any ways disturbed; their bite is very deadly, yet not always of the same force, but more or less Mortal, accordingly as the Snake is in force or vigour, and therefore in _June_ or _July_ much worse, and more Mortal, than in _March_ and _April_. This Snake is a very Majestick sort of Creature, and will scarce meddle with any thing unless provok'd, but if any thing offend it, it makes directly at them. I was told a pleasant Story of an Old Gentlemen, Col. _Cleyborn_ as I remember was his Name, the same that sent the Rattle-Snakes to the _Royal Society_ some Years since. He had an odd Fancy of keeping some of these Snakes always in Barrels in the House, and one time an _Indian_ pretending to Charm them so as to take them by the Neck in his Hand without biting of him; the Old Gentleman caused a Rattle-Snake to be brought forth, the _Indian_ began his Charm with a little Wand, whisking it round and round the Rattle-Snake's Head, bringing it by degrees nigher and nigher, and at length flung the Switch away, and whisked his Hand about in like manner, bringing his Hand nigher still and nigher, by taking less Circles, when the old Gentleman immediately hit the Snake with his Crutch, and the Snake snap'd the _Indian_ by the Hand, and bit him very sharply betwixt the Fingers, which put his Charm to an end, and he roared out; but stretch'd his Arm out as high as he could, calling for a string, wherewith he bound his Arm as hard as possibly he could, and clapt a hot burning Coal thereon, and singed it stoutly, whereby he was cured, but looked pale a long while after. And I believe this truly one of the best ways in the World of Curing the Bite either of Viper or Mad Dog. I was with the Honourable Esquire _Boyle_, when he made certain Experiments of Curing the Bite of Vipers with certain _East-India_ Snake-stones, that were sent him by King _James_ the Second, the Queen, and some of the Nobility, purposely to have him try their Vertue and Efficacy: For that end he got some brisk Vipers, and made them bite the Thighs of certain Pullets, and the Breasts of others: He applied nothing to one of the Pullets, and it died within three Minutes and a half, as I remember; but I think they all recovered to which he applied the Snake-stones, tho' they turned wonderful pale, their Combs, _&c._ immediately, and they became extream sick, and purged within half an hour, and the next morning all their Flesh was turned green to a wonder, nevertheless they recovered by degrees. The manner of the Application was only by laying on the Stone, and by two cross-bits of a very sticking _Diaculum_ Plaister binding it on, which he let not lie on past an hour or two, but I think not so long, took the Stone off, and put it into Milk for some time; some Stones were of much stronger Vertue than others. I proposed a piece of unquench'd Lime-stone to be apply'd to see whether it might not prove as powerful, but know not whether ever it was tried. But here one telling Mr. _Boyle_ the Story of this _Indian_, he approved the method of Cure, and said, an actual Cautery was the most certain Cure. The Poison, both of Viper and Mad-Dog (as I conceive) kill by thickning of the Blood, after the manner that Runnet congeals Milk when they make Cheese. Vipers, and all the Viperous Brood, as Rattle-Snakes, _&c._ that are deadly, have I believe their Poisonous Teeth Fistulous, for so I have observed that Vipers Teeth are, and the Rattle-Snakes very remarkable, and therefore they kill so very speedily by injecting the Poison through those Fistulous Teeth into the very Mass of Blood; but the bite of Mad-Dogs is oft of long continuance before it get into and corrupt the Mass of Blood, being it sticks only to the out-sides of the Teeth, and therefore when they bite thro' any thickness of Cloaths, it rarely proves Mortal, the Cloaths wiping the Poison off before it come to the Flesh. A Girl that was bit about _New-Years Day_, continued well till _Whitsontide_, when coming to see certain Friends in our Parts, she fell very ill, and being a Poor Girl, they came to me; it pleased God I recovered her. Sometime after she returned to give me thanks for saving her Life, being two Persons that were bit with the same Dog, were dead, whilst she remained under Cure, and therefore she was the fullier convinc'd she owed her life to me; but of this I shall give a more particular Instance by and by. But the Poisons of Vipers seems to be like the injecting of Liquors into the Veins of Creatures; Dr. _Moulin_ and I made many Experiments of this Nature together, and I have made many more by my self. We once, I remember, injected half a Dram of Allom into the Jugalar-Vein of a Dog before the _Royal Society_, (the Allom being only dissolved in a little Water) which within something less than one Minutes time was so absolutely dead, as not to have the least Convulsive Motion; and I have done the like with many other things besides Allom, but with some things it is more curdled and broken, than with others; and will differ much both as to colour and consistence. Salt-Petre kills much as quickly as Allom, but then the Blood in the Heart looks very florid, smooth, and even. I wish some Person of Observation and Leisure would prosecute these sort of Experiments, and make Injections of the several things most used in Physick into the Veins of Creatures, both in quantities, and into different Veins, as into the Thigh-veins of some Dogs, and Jugalars of some others, and in much lesser quantities of such things as kill suddenly; for in the little time I have spent in these sort of Experiments, I easily perceive notable discoveries might be made thereby: One Dog that lived became Lame and Gouty; another with Quick-Silver died in about Sixteen Weeks time, Consumptive, and I discovered Quick-Silver in the Impostumated parts of his Lungs. _Query_, Whether some Persons that have been Flux'd, or used Quick-silver Oyntments, and the like, and afterwards become consumptive, owe not their Distemper to the abusive use of a most excellent Remedy? Much after the same manner, the subtile Quick-Silver getting into the Mass of Blood by degrees, through its ponderosity settles in the Lobes of the Lungs, and causes Ulcers there. But to return: The Poison of Vipers and Mad Dogs I suppose kill by thickning of the Blood, as many Malignant Fevers, also do; in all which Cases, I look on Volatil Salts to be the properest Physick, as keeping the Blood from congealing. I had a singular Instance hereof in a Gentleman of _Yorkshire_, bit with a Grey-Hound on the _Thursday_, not three Minutes before the Dog died Mad; he bit him in several places of the Hands, as he was giving him a Remedy: The _Monday_ following the Gentleman was very ill, and came to our Town to an Apothecary his Acquaintance, who knowing not what to do, desired my Assistance. When I came, the Gentleman could talk, but every two or three Minutes he had violent Fits, and would tell us when they were over, that his Brains worked like Birm in an Ale-Fat, and seemed to Froth up at every Fit. The Apothecary had no Volatile Salt of Vipers; so I took the Volatile Salt of Amber, and ordered him Ten Grains in Treacle-Water every half hour: He told me every Dose seemed to clear his Brain, and cool it as perfectly, as if a Bason of Cold Water were poured on his Head, but it returned by degrees again: Having then a Volatile Salt by me that Vomits very well, I gave him a Dose thereof, it worked very well, and he was very much better after it: I then ordered him to continue the Volatile Salt of Amber once every four hours, and at each two hours end, that is betwixt, _Spec. Pleres Archonticon and Rue pouder'd ana gr._ 15. whereby he was so well recovered, that within two days he would needs go home, to look after some urgent Affairs, and afterwards found himself so well, that he forgot to return, and perfect the course; and I heard no more of him for half a Year, when I was fetch'd one Morning to him in great hast. He had been abroad, play'd the Good-Fellow, and in his return home, having rode a great days Journey, being weary, and I suppose finding himself indisposed, he staid all Night in our Town, it being fortunately in his way. In the Morning when he should have got up, he could not stand, whereupon the Apothecary was sent for, and a Surgeon to Blood him, which was accordingly done, but he grew worse; for in this Case I look upon Bleeding to be very prejudicial, as well as in most Malignant Fevers, for thereby the Spirits are diminished, and the Blood congeal'd the sooner. When they had done all they could, and the Symptoms still increased, they at length sent for me. I never saw Man or Creature in that Agony in all my life, that I found him in, Senseless, and Mad, when at best, but every Minute the fiercest shiverings ran through him, his Eyes would first roll and then set, as if ready to start out of his Head, but above all, the Swelling and Luctation at his Breast, was as if he would burst, which went off with a prodigious sigh: All this I judge the Effects of the Heart labouring to discharge it self of the stagnating Blood, and the Nervous Convulsions as consequences thereof. And I am the more confirm'd in this, from what I saw in a Woman that was bit also with a Mad-Dog in the Leg, and fell ill the very day that she had paid the Chirurgeon for her Cure; and notwithstanding all that could be done, growing worse, they sent for me; I went, and found her with what is called a _Hydrophobia_: She would look earnestly after Drink or Water, and seem to desire it, but as soon as she began to drink, away it went, be it what it would, with the greatest Violence she could possibly fling it. I gave her the Vomit hereafter and also before mentioned, but she got but little of it down, and I had no more with me; nevertheless it so brought her to her self, that she could answer Questions, and I asked her, whether she was afraid of the Drink and Water, when she flung the Cups in that violent manner from her? She said No; but when she offered to drink, her Breast and Heart would not let her. I asked, whether through any Aversion or Fear? She said, No, she was very Thirsty; but when she offered to drink, it struck to her Heart, and stopped her Breath. That is, as I apprehend, the cold Drink passing down the Throat struck a chillness in the Blood, and made it readier to stagnate: Besides the very act of Drinking, hindering the free breathing, conduced also much thereto; and therefore the Heart was so suddenly oppress'd, that she could not forbear flinging away whatever she had in her Hand. She complained also of a great rigour and stiffness or straitness of the Muscles of her Breast, so that possibly the Spiritous Liquor that flows in the _Genus Nervosum_ may be congeal'd as well as the Blood; or the same Effects may be supposed notwithstanding to be the result of the condensed Blood clogging both the Heart and Lungs, so that the Breast may seem to be straitened therewith. The same I judge to be the cause of all the violent Luxations in this Gentleman, whose Fingers I looked on, and found the places where he had formerly been bit, turned blackish, and much inflamed about them, which confirmed me in my sentiment, that it was a relapse of his former Distemper, that is, of the Bite of the Mad-Dog. I told them, if any thing in the World would save his Life, I judged it must be the former Vomit of Volatile Salts; they could not tell what to do, nevertheless such is the Malignancy of the World, that as soon as it was given, they ran away and left me, saying, he was now certainly a dead Man, to have a Vomit given in that condition. Nevertheless it pleased God that he shortly after cried, _This Fellow in the Black has done me good_, and after the first Vomit, came so to himself, as to know us all. I vomited him every other day with this Vomit for three times, and made him in the Interim to take Volatile Salt of Amber, and the aforesaid Powders, and to wash his Hands, and Sores in a strong Salt Brine: to drink Posset-drink with Sage and Rue, and by this course, and the Blessing of God, his Life was saved, and he perfectly cured, for it is now four Years since, and he had had no Relapse. I have cured several others by the same Method. Coll. _Spencer_, the Secretary of State in _Virginia_, a very Serious and Ingenious Gentleman, told me, that his Servant brought him word once that a Sow having farrow'd, a Rattle-Snake was got into the Den, and had kill'd the Piggs. The Colonel went to see the Snake, which they said was still coyl'd in the Den; there followed them two or three Mungrel Curs, and they sat one of the Dogs at the Snake, which was too quick for the Dog, and snapt him by the Nose, whereupon he set a howling, and run immediately into the adjacent River, and died very shortly after. Another of the Dogs upon the like attempt was bit by the Snake also, and fell a howling, and frothing, and tumbling; but being he died not so soon as the other Dog did, they fetched some of the Herb which they call Dittany, as having a great Traditionary Vertue for the Cure of Poisons; they pounded it, and adding a little Water, express'd the Juice, and gave the Dog frequently thereof, nevertheless he died within a day or two. The howling of the Dogs he supposed gave notice to the Sow, and made her come furiously bristling, and run immediately into her Den; but being likewise bit by the Snake, she set up a terrible Squeak, and ran also into the River, and there died.

A Gentlewoman, that was a notable Female Doctress, told me, that a Neighbour being bit by a Rattle-Snake, swelled excessively; some days afterwards she was sent for, who found him swell'd beyond what she thought it had been possible for the Skin to contain, and very Thirsty. She gave him _Oriental Bezoar_ shaved, with a strong Decoction of the aforesaid Dittany, whereby she recovered the Person: To the best of my Remembrance, it was he that told me, asking him afterwards, what he felt when the Snake first bit him? He said, it seemed as if a flash of Fire had ran through his Veins.

Besides the Rattle-Snake, there is the Blowing-Snake, an absolute Species of a Viper, but larger than any that I have seen in _Europe_; it is so called, because it seems to blow, and spread its Head, and swell very much before it bite, which is very deadly. It is Remarkable there is none of their Snakes there, make any of that hissing noise that ours in _England_ make, but only shoot out their Tongues, shaking them as ours do, without any noise at all; this is a short thick sort of Snake. There is another sort of deadly Snake, called the _Red-Snake_; I once narrowly escaped treading on the back of one of them: They are of an ugly dark brown colour, inclining to red; their Bellies are of a more dusky white, with a large streak of Vermillion Red on either side; this too is of the Viper kind, but is not so short, but its Tail is more taper and small. The _Horn-Snake_ is, as they say, another sort of deadly Snake; I never saw any of them, unless once, shortly after my Arrival in that Country, which I cannot attest to be the Horn-Snake, for I could not distinctly view it, being in a Thicket of _Sumach_, it was perch'd up about two Foot high in a _Sumach_ Branch, its Tail twisted about the Shrub, and about a quarter of a Yard stood bolt forward, leaning over the forked branch thereof: I could not see the Horn, which they say it has in its front, wherewith it strikes, and if it wounds, is as deadly as the Rattle-Snake's bite. The Gentleman that was with me, told me it was a Horn-Snake, but being in hast, and on Horse-back, and the Snake in a Thicket, I could not see the Horn; but had I thought I should never have seen more of them, I should have took a little pains to have been better satisfied. This I think may not improperly be referr'd to the _Dart-Snakes_.

The _Black-Snake_, is the largest I think of all others, but I am sure the most common; I have kill'd several of them full six Foot long, their Bite is not deemed Mortal, but it swells, and turns to a Running Sore; they feed upon Lizards, Mice, Rats, Frogs, and Toads, which I have taken out of their Bellies. I was once a Simpling in the woods, on a fair Sun-shine day, when I saw a Snake crawling on a Tree that was fallen, and licking with its forked Tongue as it moved; I stood still to observe it, and saw it lick up small Insects and Flies with wonderful nimbleness, catching them betwixt the Forks of its Tongue.

The _Corn-Snake_, most like the Rattle-Snake of all others in colour, but the Checkers are not so regular, neither has it any Rattles: They are most frequent in the Corn-Fields, and thence I suppose so called; the Bite is not so venomous as the Black-Snakes.

The _Water-Snake_, a small Snake, I never saw any of them above a Yard long, though I have sometimes seen Forty or Fifty at once; they are of an ugly dark blackish colour: They say, they are the least Venomous of any.

_Part of Two Letters from Mr. _J. Hillier_, dated _Cape Corse_,
_Jan. 3. 1687/8._ and _Apr. 25. 1688._ Wrote to the Reverend Dr.
_Bathurst_, President of _Trinity Colledge, Oxon_; giving an
Account of the Customs of the Inhabitants, the Air, _&c._ of that
Place, together with an Account of the Weather there from _Nov.
24. 1686._ to the same Day 1687._

_Cape Corse, Jan. 3. 1687/8._

I Thought the Custom of destroying Slaves at the Death of great People had been abolish'd, and I was so inform'd; but we have seen that it is not; for _Oct. 3._ this Year, died _Ahen Penin Ashrive_, King of _Feton_, here at _Cape Corse_, where he had been long sick; the Fetishers had done all they could to save his Life, which was nothing at all to purpose; their Physick scarce extends to any thing but the Flux, and what we call the French Disease; his was a Consumption and an Asthma (if I mistake not the Word) of a great continuance: so they fled to the Aid of their Religion, and according it seems to the Rules of that, they made several Pellets of Clay, which they set in his Room, in Rank and File, all sprinkled with blood; besides the several Muttons which they eat to his good Health. But that was of too little Force; so the Man died, having delivered his Sword to the Dy, who in the _Interregnum_ was to be the principal Man, for the Kingdom is Elective, contrary to what we wrote before, and commanding him to be constant to the _English_, of whom himself had been a great Favourer, with a Threat, if he was not, of haunting him after his Death; he also appointed one of his Wives, whom he thought worthy of that unlucky Honour, to accompany him to the other World; the next Day he was carried to _Feton_, and buried there, _Nov. 2._ with the poor Woman we spoke of. Presently after, they that were considerable, or had a mind to seem so, sent in them that they had a mind to Murder in Honour of the King: how many there were 'tis hard to say, the highest Account gives 90, the lowest 50, the middle 70; the Blacks do not understand Arithmetick, so the Numbers they give in all Cases are very uncertain. I think there were about Eight from this Town, which will not hold Proportion to the highest rate; but 'tis like near _Feton_ there might be more. They say also, that many more will follow at half a Years distance from his Death. The manner of the Execution of these poor Creatures I have not yet learnt, only that they make them drink and dance, with a great deal of Bravery all the begining of the Day, and towards Night cut off their Heads, but whether by that they mean the common way of their Executions I am yet to seek.

After the Kings Funeral, the next thing was to chuse a Successor; so the People was called together at _Feton_, (I suppose by the Authority of the Dy) without inquiring any thing of their Freehold; they pitched upon Mr. _Dy_, though he was not of the Blood-Royal; the Reason was, as they said, because he had Power enough to do what he pleas'd, and they could do nothing against him; but he refused the Honour because of the Charge 'twould put him to, and propos'd the Brother of the deceased King: So the Business stuck some time, but at last 'twas accorded, and he [King _Ashrive_'s Brother] declared King, _Nov. 18._ his Name is _Ahenaco_.

'Tis Wonder how they could dispatch such a Business, with so little Disturbance; but I suppose there was no considerable Number that dissented; otherwise it would scarce have been determined without Blood-shed; for it would scarce have been possible for them to have taken any Pole.

I said it was doubt whether these Sacrifices died after the rate of their ordinary Executions; if you would know that, thus it is, the Creature that is condemn'd, is made to drink abundance of Palm-Wine, and to dance, every Body that will, in the mean time striking or pushing him, when that is over, as is said, he is thrown down, his Face into the Sand, which whether it stifle him or not, I can't tell, then his Legs are cut off below the Knees, and his Arms below the Elbow, afterward his Thigh and his Arms below the Shoulder, lastly his Head.

A Man would not expect any thing more barbarous than this; yet there is a Custom which has something worse; when any one has new Drums or Trumpets, 'tis necessary that they be consecrated with Humane Blood: I have known but one happen of this Kind, that was _Jan. 7. 1686/7._ when after the Man had been executed after the former rate, about Eight in the Morning; at one in the Afternoon, they drank Palm-Wine out of the upper part of his Skull, and this in the sight of all the Factors at _Cape Corse_.

I remember for the Unhealthiness of the Place, you proposed to inquire if it were Woody, and if any good might be done to it by cutting down the Woods, as has happen'd in many _American_ Plantations; of that Matter this is what I can say.

The Shore lies almost East and West, expos'd to the Sea wholly upon the South, the Country is Hilly, the Hills not very high, but thick, clustering together, the Valleys between extream narrow, the whole in a manner cover'd with certain Shrubs, low, but very thick; what the People Till, comes not to above a Tenth part of their Ground; and where they do Till, it hinders not that within half a Year the Ground is over-grown as before, for they do not root up the Shrubs, but only cut, or sometimes burn them somewhat close to the Earth, so they spring again in a very little time; this is sufficient for their planting the Corn, which they do by making little Holes in the Earth at a competent Distance, and putting Seeds into them.

It may be that if those Shrubs were destroyed, the Matter might be mended, which yet is not to be hop'd for, but by bringing the People to some kind of Industry, and that will not be easie; they are so wholly given to Laziness, and so intirely bred up in it, that there must be the greatest Change imaginable, before they become any whit tolerable; a Man may see their Temper by this, that though their Tillage be very easie, and the Earth yields many Hundreds for One, yet so little is the use they make of it, that One scarce Year brings them to danger of Starving, and though there be People enough, and every Man has Power of choosing what he will, that is not already Till'd by some other, yet not the Tenth Part, as we have said, is employed: So that a Man would wonder what came in the French Man's Head to fancy them Industrious; but subtile they are, and diligent to Cheat any Man that is not cautious enough to avoid it.

So that the Fault of the Wood is (by the Laziness of the People) without any Remedy. But there may be something in the Earth it self; the Water which they have here in Pits (Rain-Water for the most part, but yet strain'd through the Earth) has a kind of Taste mixt of Sweet and Subacid, if I understand what I say, I am told 'tis of Vitriol, whether that be mischievous, you know better than I do. But I take this for certain, since I have had it from good Hands, that at _Widdah_, which is one of the most unhealthy Places in _Guiney_, but 'tis not upon the Gold-coast, he that opens the Ground, though it be but to dig a Grave, runs the Hazard of his Life: So mischievous are the Steams from thence arising. It's possible there may be some such Steams here, only not so violent; though in _England_ I think, a Gravel or a Sand (which here are always uppermost for as much as I have seen) are esteem'd very wholesom Soils; under them is a kind of whitish Marle almost like Fullers-Earth.

For the Air, except what I have said before, I do not know what Fault it has; 'tis extream hot, 'tis also subtile and piercing, and I believe enters a Man's Body easier than that in _England_. It has been clearer than that uses to be one day with another, even this last Year, which has been the wettest and most cloudy which has happen'd a long time; I think to give you an Account of the Weather in it as soon as I have time to transcribe.

For the Age of the Inhabitants, 'tis very uncertain, because none of them keep an Account of it; there are some of them very Grey, but if the Country be to them unhealthy, Grey Hairs may come early: I think there be many more Funerals here than at _Oxford_, though that be a much larger Place, especially in the Rain-times, which to us are always healthful.

I think that much of the Mortality (not all) that happens among Strangers, is the Effect of their ill Diet, and ill Government of themselves; for they eat but little, having neither Stomach nor Mony to buy what they want; but they drink excessively, being for that more readily trusted, and of Liquors very hot and Spirituous; and if any chuse the cold rather, his Stomach is chil'd, and he is in danger of a Flux or an extream Looseness, and that immediately.

There is another thing, Men guard themselves less from the Air than in any other Places trusting to the Heat of the Climate, and receive the cool of the Evening with only a Shirt. Now I think that the Air, tho' not so cold, is much more subtle and piercing here, than in our Country, it corrodes Iron much more, not by the Moisture, for it is not so moist, and besides it does it in the dry Weather too. Perhaps there are some other Effects to evidence the same thing; besides that, the Diet which most Men procure, is not extraordinary, and the passing by Canoes from one Place to another has a Danger in it beside that of the Sea.

* * * * *

_Cape Corse, Apr. 25. 1688._

I Promised in my last to give you an Account of the Weather at _Cape Corse_ for the last Year, which Account I have inclosed in this; it is as exact as I could give; 'tis a thing which has been very little observed, whether it deserves to be more, I do not know. That Year has had the most Rain of any that can be here remember'd; yet the Mortality was much less than the Years before; so that perhaps Wet is not that which makes the Country unhealthy; though we had very many Sick, especially in _June_ and _July_, whose Diseases were not Mortal.

If you give your self the Trouble to read the inclosed, you will find often mention of a Tornada, which is a violent Storm of Wind, followed commonly by Rain, but not always; the Wind ceases not presently upon the Rain, but after sometimes it does: In this Place it comes (as does an Hermitan) most frequently from the North, taking in the next Points, whether to the East or West, but chiefly the East, though I have seen both that and an Hermitan from other Points; so the Account is not without Exception; there are in it short, uncertain Blasts from all Quarters, which I believe reach not many Yards, but the general Wind (for ought that I see) is not so unconstant; Vessels that go to Windward are help'd by them, when they are not over strong, for they are opposite to the Sea Breze, and they can steer by them a regular Course; which sure they could not do, if they were very irregular. They never fail to give warning before hand, though sometimes after that warning they do not follow; there is a very black Cloud appears afar, in which if there be a kind of white Spot, the Wind will be moist, if not the Rain; this the Sailors say. Sometimes there is that Mark, sometimes not, though I doubt the Prediction from it is not very certain; as neither are any perhaps of that kind.

_An Account of the Weather at _Cape Corse_ in _Guiney_, from Nov.
24. 1686. to the same Day, 1687._

Lat. N. 4_d._ 49_m._ _Nov. 1686._

24. And 25. Clear and Hot.

26. About 2. _a. m._ a Storm of Rain with Thunder for ½ Hour.

27. At the same Hour, Rain which lasted somewhat longer.

28. About 5. _a. m._ Some Rain, afterward Misty, about 10. extream hot.

29. About 2. _a. m._ a great storm of Rain, slacking often but renewing again, it lasted about an Hour; the Day after clear.

_December, 1686._

Thence to _Dec. 7._ clear; then cloudy in the Morning; between 12. and 1. _p. m._ a Shower lasting about ½ Hour. Thence clear and hot.

10. A little Mist in the Morning, otherwise very clear and hot; so till 15.

15. And some Days after somewhat thick, especially in the Morning.

19, And 20. We had a dry North, and North-Easterly Wind, call'd an Hermitan, and it overcame the Sea-Breeze; found very ill for the Eyes, and most Men complained of a Feverish Temper; it was parching, but rather colder than ordinary.

21. It ceased; a clear Air and very hot.

23. We had the Hermitan again; but the Morrow it ceased; then and

25. Some Clouds, but no Rain.

Thence to 29. clear and hot; 29. the Hermitan returned, but did not continue.

Thence Clouds sometimes, but no Rain till _Jan. 2._

This Month we had Three Funerals, one being Sick of the Flux laid violent Hands upon himself, through impatience of the Pain, the 3d Day.

The Second upon the 25th died convulsively, not having been Sick above one Day.

The Third, _Dec. 27._ died of a Dropsy, which had succeeded a tedious Flux.

_January, 1686/7._

2. About 5. _a. m._ Rain for ½ Hour between 7. and 9. an Hour; from ½ Hour past 9. to 1. _p. m._ the rest cloudy.

5. At 2. _a. m._ about ½ Hour.

8. At 1. in the Morning about an Hour, the Days between somewhat cloudy. Thence to 12. extream hot.

12, And 14. somewhat cloudy otherwise the Heat continued.

17. At 7. _p. m._ a Tornada for above ½ Hour, and about 12. at Night another; but the Heat very little abated.

22. Between 5. and 6. _p. m._ began a Tornada, which lasted above an Hour very violent, with great Claps of Thunder and Lightning. Tank fill'd 1 Foot.

23. In the Morning a great Mist, after 8. clear and extream hot.

The latter end of _January_, and the begining of _February_ commonly Misty in the Morning; after extream hot.

I find no Funeral this Month.

_February, 1686/7._

Beginning of _February_, as before.

10. Somewhat Cloudy and cool, till then we were troubled with Coughs, for the most part; about this time they ceased.

So the 11th, toward Night, Thunder afar off, and expectation of a Tornada: but it fail'd.

12. Extream hot.

13. A stronger Wind than ordinary from Seaward.

14. Something like an Hermitan, but not from its usual Quarter. Clear and hot till about 2. _p. m._ then cloudy but no Rain.

Thence to 22. extream hot and clear.

From 22. to _March 1._ some flying clouds without Rain; sultry hot and unwholesom.

24. Some shew of a Tornada, but it past away.

This Month we had two Funerals, but their Diseases I find not.

_March, 1686/7._

The beginning of _March_ as the latter end of _February_.

5. From 6. _a. m._ for an Hour and ½. a violent Tornada; the Day after cloudy. 6. Clear.

7. At Night Lightning and Clouds afar off; but nothing followed.

Thence to 11. clear and hot.

11. About 5. _a. m._ a violent Rain for almost ½ Hour.

12, And 13. cloudy.

14. About 4. _a. m._ a gentle Shower but lasted not long.

15. Between 6. and 7. _a. m._ a few Drops, and likelyhood of more, but nothing followed; both Days cloudy.

16. Extream hot.

17. Somewhat cloudy.

Thence to 20. extream hot.

20. Cloudy; about 10. _a. m._ some few Drops.

21. Very hot.

22. In the Morning hot; about 12. a violent Rain for a Quarter of an Hour.

23. Clear.

24. About 2. _a. m._ Rain for about ½ Hour; the Day after clear.

Thence to _April 3._ clear and extream hot.

No Funeral.

_April, 1687._

3. At 3. _p. m._ a violent Tornada, but only some few Drops of Rain; at 5. _p. m._ a little more Rain.

4. Cloudy by Fits, otherwise very hot.

5. Hot and clear.

6. In the Morning hot, about 2. _p. m._ cloudy; about 3. some Drops of Rain, in the Evening the Clouds dispersed.

7. Clear and hot.

8. Between 12. and 1. in the Morning, a violent Rain for near an Hour; after 2. one somewhat longer; the Day after there appeared to have been much Rain; Tank fill'd Two Foot and somewhat more.

9. About 7. _a. m._ some Drops; cloudy all Day.

10. Cloudy about 11. _a. m._ a small Mist.

11. Presently after Midnight it began to Rain and lasted till 6. _a. m._ a great part of the time very violently, it began with a strong Tornada; Tank above Three Feet. The Day after some Clouds; otherwise extream hot.

So also 12, and 13.

14. About 5. _a. m._ a Shower for ½ Hour, between 6. and 7. _p. m._ another of the same continuance, the Day between extream hot.

So 15. 16. A Shower for ½ Hour, it began with a violent Tornada, the Rain not much, afterward cloudy.

17, And 18. Clear.

19. Clear also, about 7. _p. m._ a considerable Wind and some Drops of Rain.

20. Clear but Windy.

21. Between 12. and 2. moderate Rain for near an Hour.

22. About 2. _a. m._ moderate Rain almost an Hour; at 11. _p. m._ a short Shower and gentle; the Day between extream hot.

23. Cloudy about 10. _a. m._ some Drops.

24. Extream hot.

25. About 1. _a. m._ Rain for near an Hour; the Morning after hot; Afternoon cloudy; most part of the Night, Thunder and Lightning, but no Rain.

26. At 7. _a. m._ strong Rain for ½ Hour, after that a little Mist; Afternoon, from 12. to 15. it rain'd unequally, but the most part moderate.

27. Extream hot.

28. About 12. Somewhat Cloudy, at 3. _p. m._ it began to Rain, and lasted about an Hour and ½; after cloudy and some Drops; in the Night a Shower or two.

29. Cloudy. Thence to _May 6._ sometimes cloudy; but for the most part violent hot.

This Month we had Three Funerals; one the 3d of a Fever, another on the 19th of I know not what Pains in the Guts, another 24. of the Flux.

The 15. and some Days following, there settled upon the Castle Walls, certain Swarms of wing'd Ants, a little bigger than Bees; they would bite very severely, and were blown up with Powder.

_May, 1687._

Till the 6. as before.

6. In the Morning cloudy, a little after Noon some Wind, followed by gentle Rain, which lasted till 3. _p. m._ after cloudy.

7. Hot. 8. Cloudy about 10. _a. m._ a gentle Shower for ¾ Hour; about 8. _p. m._ a very violent Storm of Wind and Rain, but it quickly grew moderate, and lasted in all not above ½ Hour. 9. Clear.

10. About Noon a violent Shower for ¼ of an Hour; after 8. _p. m._ another as long, but not so violent; past 9. another shorter.

11. Clear. 12. Clear, past 9. _p. m._ a very Violent Tornada with Rain, which lasted somewhat more than 2 Hours.

13. Between 12. and 1. in the Night, a short Shower; about 9. _a. m._ some Drops; so also in the Afternoon but nothing considerable; cloudy all Day.

14. Cloudy; at 9. _a. m._ a violent Rain for ¼; after gentle for above an Hour; about 3. _p. m._ some Drops.

15. About 3. _a. m._ Rain for ½ Hour; between 4. and 5. another; after foggy and cloudy, with some few Drops; about 7. _p. m._ a violent Tornada with Rain for near an Hour.

16. About 4. _a. m._ Rain for an Hour; after 8. for ¼ Hour; after 6. _p. m._ Rain and Wind, but both moderate, for ½ Hour; past 8. about as much.

17. About 4. _a. m._ a short Shower, after clear; 18. clear.

19. Cloudy, about 10. _a. m._ some Drops.

20. Cloudy between 8. and 10. _a. m._ a Shower; first violent, after more moderate, till it ended in a kind of Mist; it lasted in all about 1½ Hour; the Day after clear, 21, and 22. clear.

23. In the Afternoon cloudy; about 6. _p. m._ some Drops; the Night after, a Shower, not considerable.

24. Hot, about 10. _p. m._ a little Shower.

25. Clear; 26. in the Night some little Rain.

27. Held up; 28. at 9. _p. m._ a short Shower.

29. At 5. _a. m._ Rain till near 7. a little past 7. till 9. after cloudy.

30. Cloudy; the Night after some Rain.

31. About 8. _a. m._ Rain for ½ Hour; from 9. till 12. it rained for the most part very violently; before 1. another Shower for ½ Hour; from a little after 2. till 5. with very great Thunder.

One Funeral on the 25th after but Three Days Sickness, of which I can give no account.

The beginning of this Month, we had an extraordinary Number of Toads, which after some time were not to be seen.

The 14th we had wing'd Ants, as before.

24. Was the first Corn, the Seed-time having been the middle of _March_.

_June, 1687._

1. About 4. _a. m._ Rain for an Hour; past 1. _p. m._ for ½ Hour; the rest cloudy and misty.

2. From 2. _a. m._ till 5. continual Rain, 'tis said there was some before; from 9. _a. m._ till ½ Hour past 6. _p. m._ continual Rain, sometimes very fierce; from ½ Hour past 9 at Night, Rain till past 10.

3. From 6. to a little past 7. _a. m._ a very gentle Rain, from thence till 1. _p. m._ most commonly very fierce; thence for a little while more moderate; but it rain'd hard again till 6. _p. m._ then it drop'd but slowly, and so continued till about 7. in the Night some little Rain.

4. About 8. _a. m._ some Drops, thence clear.

6, And 7. clear, except some few flying Clouds.

8. After 3. _a. m._ gentle Rain for near an Hour; then cloudy and some Drops, after 10. _p. m._ a Shower.

9. At 5. _a. m._ a gentle Shower, lasted till past 7. thence a very violent Rain till almost 9. some Drops after that; about 3. _p. m._ it began and rain'd till past 10. somewhat moderately.

10. Clear and hot.

11. Cloudy; about 8. _p. m._ a few Drops.

12. From about 2. _a. m._ till near 5. Rain, but not violent; a little before 6. a furious Storm of Rain, but little Wind; it lasted till ½ Hour past 7. about 3. _p. m._ a moderate Rain, till a little past 4. and from thence to 6. somewhat more than a Mist; the Night after it rained a little.

13. Cloudy; in the Afternoon it drop'd a little.

14. About 8. _a. m._ a few Drops.

15. Somewhat cloudy.

16. Extream hot; toward Night cloudy; about 5. _p. m._ a violent Shower for ½ Hour; from a little before 8. till past 10. it rained continually.

17. From 4. _a. m._ till almost 6. gentle Rain; so from a little past 6. till past 7. thence till past 3. _p. m._ cloudy, and now and then some Drops; then a violent Shower for ⅛th of an Hour; half an Hour after 4. it rain'd again and continued till past 10. for the most part very furiously; with some little Intermission it rain'd all Night.

18. At 3. _a. m._ it rained very fiercely; about ½ Hour after 6. it held up, but cloudy still; from 8. _a. m._ till past 3. _p. m._ it rained, but moderately; then it held up a little, but rained after till past 6. all Day cloudy, and at Night a great Fog.

19. About 9. _a. m._ some Drops; from 1. till past 3. _p. m._ very gentle Rain.

Thence to the First of _July_, foggy, Morning, sometimes hot, but for the most cloudy, and more temperate than could be expected from the Climate.

Two Funerals, one the 9th of an Asthma; the other 21. of a Fever.

We saw some Sorts of Insects not usual here, whether monstrous or not, I cannot tell. The most notable, a kind of Spider, about the Bigness of a Beetle, the Form nearest of a Crab-fish, with an odd kind of Orifice visible in the Belly, whence the Web proceeded.

_July, 1687._

1. Extream hot.

2. Foggy in the Morning; about 9. _a. m._ a few Drops; after clear.

3. In the Morning a great Fog; about 9. _a. m._ it rained small Rain for near an Hour; toward night more foggy than ever before; about 6. _p. m._ small Rain for a little time; from 8. till past 9. somewhat more brisk Rain, after that it cleared up.

4. From 9. _a. m._ to 3. _p. m._ small Rain, the rest foggy; between 10. and 11. _p. m._ some Rain.

5. From 2. _a. m._ till past 8. constant Rain, sometimes very fierce, sometimes moderate; about 10. _a. m._ some Rain; between 2. and 3. _p. m._ it began to Rain, but continued not long; from 8. _p. m._ to 10. Rain.

6. From about 2. _a. m._ to 6. Rain, after fair.

7. Foggy and cloudy; between 7. and 8. _a. m._ some Drops.

8. Foggy in the Morning, otherwise clear and hot.

9. About 1. _a. m._ a smart Shower, between 3. and 5. some more Rain, the time of which we know not exactly. The Day after foggy.

10. Very dull and cloudy; from 3. _p. m._ till Night a very great Mist.

11. Tolerably clear, and very hot, yet somewhat foggy Morning and Evening.

12. Cloudy; thence to 15. in the Morning and Evening foggy; else very hot.

15. Cloudy; about 10. _a. m._ some Drops; from half an Hour past 2. till 4. moderate Rain; about 7. some Drops.

16. Cloudy, several times it drop'd a little but nothing considerable.

17. A little before Day, a short Shower; after cloudy; thence to 20. foggy Morning and Evening, and the most part cloudy.

20. Very clear all Day, and extream hot.

21. Not foggy at all; yet somewhat cloudy, but about Mid-day it cleared up.

22, And 23. very clear and extream hot.

24. Cloudy in the Morning; after as the Two last.

25. Cloudy but not misty nor foggy, sultry hot.

26. In the Morning cloudy, after extream hot.

27. Hot and clear.

28. Thin Clouds, through which the Sun shone very hot.

29. And 30. cloudy.

31. About 3. _a. m._ Two short Storms of Rain, the Day after clear and hot.

Two Funerals, one the 17th drowned; the other 21. of a Fever.

_August, 1687._

To 5. clear, for the most part in the Mornings cloudy; but without Fogs; sometimes very hot.

5. About 5. _a. m._ a Shower near an Hour long, about 7. another for ½ Hour, till 10. some small Rain; thence cloudy till 1. about 7. _p. m._ a few Drops.

6. Cloudy all Day, sometimes it drop'd a little.

7. about 2. _a. m._ violent Rain, with Wind for above ½ Hour. The Day after cloudy.

8. And 9. cloudy and foggy.

10. More foggy than ordinary; about 10. _a. m._ a great Mist, or small Rain for most part of the Day after.

11. Foggy as the former and Misty; between 8. and 9. _a. m._ a Shower of small Rain; after Noon clear.

12. Small Rain in the Morning; after as 11.

13. Clear and hot, the Land Breze very strong.

14. Cloudy all Day, the Land Breze turn'd to a kind of Hermitan, but not troublesome, nor continued beyond this Day.

15. Cloudy, several times very misty, and some small Rain.

16. Cloudy, but no Mist; after Noon clear.

Thence to 22. clear and hot, but the Nights colder than at other times.

22. At 6. _p. m._ cloudy, a Wind Tornada but moderate, with some few Drops of Rain very large.

23. Clear and hot.

24. Cloudy and misty at first; about 10. _a. m._ clear and hot.

25. Clear and hot.

26. Very foggy, Morning and Evening; for the rest hot.

27. From 5. to 10. _a. m._ it rain'd smartly; thence cloudy, about 2. _p. m._ it clear'd up for a while; about 9. _p. m._ a sharp Rain for ½ Hour.

28. Between 12. and 3. _a. m._ it rained about Two Hours; about 7. some few Drops, after Cloudy, in the middle of the Day, it clear'd a little, but quickly overcast again.

29. In the Night some Rain; at 7. _a. m._ Rain for ½ Hour; till past 12. a very thick Mist; about 3. _p. m._ clear; at Night a very thick Mist.

To the end cloudy and Misty.

Three Funerals, 6. one of a Fever, 7. another of a Consumption, 29. a third of a Fever.

_September, 1687._

1. And 2. as the last.

3. Some few Drops.

Thence to 8. cloudy also and misty.

8. About 6. _p. m._ some small Rain; between 8. and 10. _p. m._ for an Hour pretty brisk Rain.

9. In the Morning cloudy and misty.

10. About 10. _p. m._ a little Rain.

11. Extream hot and clear; in the Night, considerable Rain for several Hours.

12. About 10. _a. m._ some small Rain, the Morning very foggy, Afternoon clear.

13. Clear and hot.

14. And 15. In the Morning extream cloudy, and some Drops of Rain.

16. Clear and extream Hot.

17. Moderate, about 7. _p. m._ some Drops; at Night also some Rain, not considerable.

18. Cloudy; in the Morning about 12. some Drops; all this Week, Morning and Evening Foggy and thick.

19, 20, 21. Extream hot, the Fogs ceased.

22. About 1. _a. m._ some Rain, the Day after cloudy.

23, 24, 25. In the Morning cloudy after very hot.

26. At Night also somewhat Misty, with many Flashes of Lightning, but no Thunder.

The like Flashes most Nights to the end of the Month, also often cloudy; at other times extream hot.

Two Funerals, one the 19th of a Fever, the other the 26th, whose Disease I do not know.

_October, 1687._

1. About 3. _a. m._ a very fierce Rain for near an Hour, but milder toward the end; the Day after some flying Clouds.

2. About 4. _a. m._ a little Rain, the Day after as before; from 8. _p. m._ till 10. moderate Rain.

3. Cloudy; about 10. _a. m._ Rain for somewhat more than an Hour.

4. Cloudy between 8, and 10. _p. m._ a very smart Rain for above an Hour.

5. About 9. _a. m._ a little Shower.

6. About 5. _a. m._ a little Shower; another past 6. the Day after, and 7 extream hot.

8. Hot in the Morning; after Noon a shew of a Tornada, with Thunder, and a considerable Wind, but no Rain.

Thence to 16. some flying Clouds, but generally hot.

16. About 4. _p. m._ a little Rain, the Sun shining then, and the whole Day very hot; about 8. _p. m._ a very strong Tornada, Wind and Rain for about ½ Hour, afterward the Rain continued, but more moderate, for near Two Hours.

17. Clear and hot. 18. So too, except that about 3. _p. m._ there was a very short Shower.

19. And 20. somewhat cloudy.

21. About 7. _a. m._ a few Drops, after clear and extream hot, but quickly cloudy again; at 11. _a. m._ a violent Tornada, with very strong Rain and Thunder for near an Hour; thence all the time till Night, thick and misty; till 2. _p. m._ Rain.

22. Cloudy. 23. Clear and hot.

24. Somewhat cloudy; at 7. _p. m._ a little Rain.

25. Cloudy; about 11. _a. m._ Expectation of a Tornada, with some Thunder, but it ended in a few Drops of Rain about 1. _p. m._

26. About 2. _a. m._ a very violent Tornada, and after the Wind, Rain not very fierce, which lasted till 8. _a. m._ the Day after cloudy.

27. About 10. _p. m._ a violent Wind with Rain, but it lasted not long.

28. About 3. _a. m._ a strong Rain for near an Hour the Day after extream hot.

29. And 30. hot, yet with some Clouds.

30. Half an Hour after 11. _p. m._ began a very furious Tornada, the Wind was quickly over, but the Rain lasted with extream violence about Two Hours.

31. In the Morning very hot; about 2. _p. m._ a violent Tornada, with Rain and Thunder very near; it ceased sometimes, but beginning again, lasted till near 4. _p. m._ afterward cloudy.

Three Funerals, all upon the 6th Day, Two of Fevers, the other I know not.

_November, 1687._

Clear and extream hot till the 6th.

6. About half an Hour past 1. in the Morning a very violent Rain for more than an Hour.