THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 113 



to prevent that almost intolerable combination of high temperature, high 

 humidity and a stagnant air from which there is no escape. The Islands are 

 on the edge of the region of trade winds, which here keep up a steady flow, 

 mostly from northeast, east or southeast, according to the season. 



The rainfall varies greatly from year to year. In the five years from 

 1898 to 1902 the annual amount ranged from 38 inches to 62 inches. The 

 average annual fall is approximately 50 inches. The rains are mostly of 

 short duration, but frequent, and occasionally heavy. The average number of 

 days with rain during the course of the year is about 150, with the greatest 

 frequency in the summer and fall months. Thunderstorms occur in all the 

 months of the year but are most frequent in the summer months. 



The Islands are apparently healthful and remarkably free from the dis- 

 eases generally associated with warm climates. In addition to the favorable 

 climatic condition of the Islands, they afford a pleasing, though somewhat 

 limited, variety of tropical vegetation, marvelous beauty of the surrounding 

 waters, and abundant opportunity for sailing and fishing, all of which com- 

 bine to offer a constant temptation to the visitor to lead an outdoor life. 



While the Islands admirably meet the requirements of those who desire 

 to spend a few restful months in quiet and congenial surroundings, or of the 

 invalid in search of health, the atmosphere lacks the tonic effect so character- 

 istic of our more northern climates, which make great exertion possible in all 

 affairs of life. 



TEMPERATURE. 



In most regions where a marine climate prevails, there is comparatively 

 little variation in temperature conditions from month to month, or from one 

 year to another. A few years of carefully made observations will generally 

 yield safe normal and extreme values for such localities. Out of the long 

 series of observations available for Nassau, selection has been made for 

 special consideration of the observations covering the five-year period from 

 1898 to 1902. The small island of JSFew Providence, upon which Nassau is 

 built, is in the midst of the group constituting the Bahama Islands and its 

 climatic conditions will fairly represent conditions in the entire group. All 

 observations cited in the following pages, unless otherwise stated, were made 

 at Nassau from 1898 to 1902. 



