Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 2) (London, 1832)

THE TUFAUN. 107

tongue the blades of grass, the leaves of trees,
and green herbage of all kinds. Wherever they
settle for the night, vegetation is completely de-
stroyed ; and a day of mournful consequences
is sure to follow their appearance in the poor
farmer's fields of green corn.

But that which bears the most awful resem-
blance to the visitations of God's wrath on
Pharaoh and the Egyptians, is, I think, the
frightful storm of wind which brings thick dark-
ness over the earth at noonday, and which often
occurs from the Tufaun or Haundhie, as it is
called by the Natives. Its approach is first dis-
cerned by dark columns of yellow clouds, bor-
dering the horizon; the alarm is instantly given
by the Natives who hasten to put out the fires in
the kitchens, and close the doors and windows
in European houses, or with the Natives to let
down the purdahs. No sound that can be
conceived by persons wbo have not witnessed
this phenomenon of Nature, is capable of con-
veying an idea of the tempest. In a few
minutes total darkness is produced by the thick
cloud of dust; and the tremendous rushing wind