670 VEGETATION OF THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 
New Guinea Region, are under the influence of a rotation of 
seasons such as is diametrically opposite to what prevails in 
parallel regions, and such as does not exist in the neighbour- 
ing countries; and which must have its proper influence on 
the state of the vegetation, which in these warm, as in all 
other latitudes, observes certain decided and undeviating re- 
lations to the seasons of the year, and with the state of the 
atmosphere they bring with them. By theory, and also by 
experience, the period corresponding to our summer should 
e the dry season of the southern hemisphere. For our sum- 
mer is synchronous with their winter, and the winter is their 
dry season, the rains occurrmg when the sun occupies that 
hemisphere. This tract is swept by two periodical winds, or 
monsoons; the south-east, which sets in about March or 
April, and brings with it the wet season, and continuing 
about six months, is succeeded by the north-west monsoon, 
which prevails till the ensuing March, and which is that of 
the dry season. Pursuing the parallel of latitude to the 
westward, we shall encounter the large island of Celebes. 
Now here the customary state of things obtains, for the wet 
season sets in with the north-west monsoon in November. 
The influence of this peculiarity of the seasons is felt variously 
in different parts of the region. To the westward, or over 
the Moluccas and New Guinea, they occur more decidedly 
than over the more easterly portions. Here the rains are 
heavy, and the temperature takes a high station; but on ap- 
proaching the Pacific the seasons are less developed and the 
temperature is more moderate. 
The Feejee Islands, then, from their easterly position, do 
not experience the influence of these monsoons in their in- 
tensity, but partake more of the even character of the climate 
of the Pacific Ocean. In many respects this little-known 
group of islands is at the present time the most interesting 
of these seas ; for they have the greatest extent of surface, are 
covered with a numerous, handsome, active, and intelligent 
population, and seem to possess great fertility. Some of the 
islands are mountainous, and rise rapidly from the shores, 
