Title
A Voyage to the East Indies: Page 71
Description
Vegetable can be seen, but clouds of hot sandy Dust almost obscure the Sky. Yet after a few Showers of Rain the Earth grows refresh’d & produces Grass in the most barren spot & the Trees & Plants once more receive their Pristine Vigour and Beauty. At Intervals the Weather, seems exceedingly cold, so as to oblige the Natives & those who have long inhabited the Country to wear Cloth. Yet the Thermometer was seldom below 80º. By an exact Observation every Day at Noon during three Months Rain I generally found it from 80º to 84º. Tho’ in an extraordinary fine Day it would rise to 86º. And in a Squall of Wind and Rain fall to 79º. The Sudden Change of the Air, & the Temperature of the Climate, must needs have some ill Effect on the Health or Constitutions of the Inhabitants, especially when we consider, that the Earth has been scorching, for the space of eight Months, and the Air pure and elastic. Yet I observ’d its Effects were less perceiv’d by the Natives & People accustom’d to the Climate than by new Comers. Indeed Gouts Rheumatisms, and chronical Disorders, were exasperated in the unhappy People subject to those Complaints, but fresh Disorders were hardly felt. Those afflicted with the Dysentery, or any Disease attended with much Debility, and Relaxation, must evidently fall victims to the Change, as must the Asthmatic etc. But those Effects, ill as they may be, Providence has counterbalanc’d by the excellent Disposition it reproduces in the system of things in general. Rice, that grand support of Millions, can only be produc’d (to Perfection) by Moisture. [end page 71]
