UBSTANCES--MANNA--WHEAT--SHOWERS OF
STONES--METEORIC STONES, OR AEROLITES--METEORIC IRON--SUPPOSITIONS
RESPECTING THEM--FOSSIL RAIN.
CHAPTER VIII.
p. 191.
COMMON SAYINGS RESPECTING THE WEATHER--SAINT SWITHIN'S-DAY--SIGNS OF
RAIN OR OF FAIR WEATHER DERIVED FROM THE APPEARANCE OF THE SUN--FROM
THAT OF THE MOON--FROM THE STARS--FROM THE SKY--FROM THE DISTINCTNESS
OF SOUNDS--FROM THE RISING OF SMOKE--FROM THE PECULIAR ACTIONS OF
PLANTS AND ANIMALS--PROGNOSTICS NOTICED BY SIR HUMPHREY DAVY--SIGNS OF
RAIN COLLECTED BY DR. JENNER--NORTH AMERICAN RAIN-MAKERS--INCIDENT
RELATED BY CATLIN--RAIN-DOCTORS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA--RAIN-DOCTORS OF
CEYLON--SUPERSTITIONS GIVING WAY TO THE TEACHING OF
MISSIONARIES--CONCLUSION.

[Picture: Clouds among the mountains]

CHAPTER I:

RAINS PECULIAR TO EACH SEASON--SPRING SHOWERS--MIDSUMMER RAINS--RAINS OF
AUTUMN AND WINTER--MEANS OF SUPPLYING THE EARTH WITH
RAIN--RAIN-CLOUDS--DECEPTIVE APPEARANCES OF CLOUDS--THEIR LIGHT AND
SHADE--EFFECTS OF CLOUDS IN MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRIES--ASCENT OF MONTE
PIENTIO--ASCENT TO THE PEAK OF TENERIFFE--GRAND EFFECTS OF CLOUDS IN THE
PYRENEES--VOYAGE IN A BALLOON THROUGH THE CLOUDS.

Every season has its own peculiar rains. What can be more refreshing or
invigorating than the showers of spring? When the snows of February have
disappeared, and the blustering winds of March have performed their
office of drying up the excess of moisture, and preparing the earth for
fruitfulness, and when the young buds and blossoms of April are peeping
forth beneath the influence of the sun, and the trees and hedges are
attired in their new robes of tender green, how soon would all this
beauty languish but for the showers of spring! Several dry days,
perhaps, have passed, and the wreaths of dust which are raised by the
wind show that the earth wants moisture; but before a drop falls there is
a general lull throughout all nature; not a leaf is heard to rustle; the
birds are mute and the cattle stand in expectation of the refreshing
fall. At last the pools and rivulets are "dimpled" by a few soft drops,
the forerunners of the general shower. And this shower, unlike the
heavier rains of summer, comes stealing on so gently, that the tinkling
sound of its fall is heard among the branches of the bursting trees long
before it is felt by those who walk beneath their slight shelter.
Rapidly does the lan