The Sierra Maestra. 241 



the range at Habana, and as far as records go, rarely above 28 

 degrees in any part of the year, namely from 50° to 78°, except on 

 higher elevations — here naturally shows much greater daily range 

 and still greater annual range. From conversations with various 

 natives it was learned that August, the month when the writer ar- 

 rived, was the hottest in the year, and comparatively dry. The 

 nights, however, were always delightfully cool, even at the seashore, 

 a mountain wind setting in at night, and a seawind in the morning 

 tempering the hot rays of the sun, which only during the middle of 

 the day became really oppressive; otherwise not much difference 

 from Northern hot summer days was noticed. In September, this 

 weather continued, except that occasional rains became more fre- 

 quent; usually in the middle of the day a brisk thunderstorm and 

 shower in one valley or the other would occur, lasting from one-half 

 to two hours. Towards the end of the month a temporal — a seawind 

 blowing into the moisture-laden over-fall wind — increased the hu- 

 midity so as to give rise to a heavy downpour continuing for hours, 

 and lasting several days. October brings the climax of this second- 

 ary rainy season with cold weather, and gives way in November to 

 a cool and dry season continuing pleasant — often too cool, as the 

 natives complain, when the Northers blow — until March, when the 

 Southeastern winds usher in the principal rainy season which, with 

 increasing heat, reaches its maximum in May. This month, hot and 

 wet, the real springtide of vegetation, stops all travel and work, 

 and by June the rivers are rampant, but by July the water is gone, 

 the skies have become clear and the sun beats down upon the dry 

 ground. Although during the rainy seasons, large amounts of wa- 

 ter fall and showers occur all through the year, all Southern expos- 

 ures especially in the front ranges are really relatively dry country, 

 due to rapid drainage and evaporation, bearing a different vege- 

 tation and exhibiting different development from the canyons and 

 northern slopes. In the higher altitudes also considerable variation 

 exists on the different slopes according whether they lie open to the 

 moist winds or are located in the rain shadow of some higher wind- 

 ward peak or range. 



To complete the topographic description, it may be said that the 

 backbone of the main ridge, running almost due East and West, is 

 not a continuous ridge but is from time to time, namely wherever a 

 river basin starts, interrupted by superior eminences or peaks, a pair 

 of them with a much depressed saddle below the general level of the 



