Note 13 — Chapter VII
Reading edition
Method of discovering Haze round the Sun, in bright Weather.
To know whether the Air is hazy, tho’ the Sun continues shining.
The Method taken for that Purpose was by placing the Hand so as to cover his Disk or Body, and then observe the Glory blazing round him; which may, in general, be seen to issue in great Abundance, in Rays of a golden Colour: occasioned by a Haziness or Vapour which pervades the lower Regions of the Air, most frequently in the hottest and calmest Weather, and in the hottest Climates. The Accumulation of these Vapours, before they are formed into Clouds, are often so great as to intercept the Sun’s Rays, or dye them the Colour of Blood: an Appearance frequent in Virginia, and also throughout the torrid Zone.
In the Campania of Rome, for Instance, the Italians have a peculiar Name for such Kind of Weather, when the Sun is neither visible nor invisible: Il Sole si vede, e’ non si vede.
By Degrees the Hand is to be removed so as just to have a Glance of the Sun’s Limb. And it frequently happens that the Air is exceedingly hazy; tho’ not a Cloud appears above the Horizon.