Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 003.djvu/78

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

(701)

noted, that some of their rootes are totally putrify'd, some only in part; the rest being of another kind of more Vegetable-like confidence, whilest the Boughes and Trunk are of another Nature. Several of these are to be seen at the Lord Mordants at Parsons-green, where you may fee those Accretions oi Stone on the Boughes. And these Accretions are often loose, and moveable, as Beads on a string. But the Nitrous Stone was lost in the bringing. There are also some of these Trees like Buckshorns, but broke by the way, with their particular excrescences that are beautify'd with stars imprinted in them.

5. Of the Water at the Point of Jamaica (concerning which I formerly noted, that at the said Point, wherever you digg 5 or 6 Foot, it will appear ebbing and flowing as the Tide) I shall further observe, That, though the Sand does so percolate, that you find it upon digging so deep; yet from that Sand there ariseth no steam into the Air, notwithstanding the heat of the Country. For proof hereof, I observ'd, that Men would lie all night, and sleep on the Sands without hurt. And (to take notice of that particular on this occasion) 'tis an usual thing for the Weavill (or fly, that breeds in Meal, Currants, Raisins, &c.) to be thus cured: After that the Sun hath heated the Sand, they spread a Sheet, and on that spread their Meal, Currants, &c. the Sand being hot under, the said Weavils or wing'd Animal (which yet flies not) retire from the bottom to the upper parts; and these being heated, they retire all into the middle and thence, being heated, they are fore'd to run away out, and are so swept away. And if you, spread the Sheet on the firm ground, though never so much heated with the Sun, it will presently grow damp there, and the Weavils will lodge themselves at the bottom; so as that you can never separate them any where else, but on the sand. Also in the nights I observed, that between the other ground and our pendulous Hamacks there gather'd not only a greater coldness* * This is the reason, that the Indians make Fires under their Hamacks. of Air, but also moisture, than was observable at the Point, when we hung in the like posture. It is true, that the reason is obvious, why there should be an Aire under the narrow passage betwixt the Hamack and the ground, which is not ob-
H h h h
servable