42 A VOYAGE TO Book T. 



ibcli impel uoíífy, that the ftreels have the appearance 

 of rivers, and the country of an ocean. The inhabit- 

 ants make ufc of this opportunity, otherwife io dread- 

 ful, for filling their cillerns ; this l^eingthe only fweet 

 water they can procure. Bcfides the water faved for 

 private ufes, there are large refervoirs on thebaftions, 

 that the town may not be reduced to the fhocking ron- 

 fequence of wanting water. There are indeed wells 

 in moil houfes; but the water being thick and brack- 

 iih, is not fit to drink, but fervcs for other ufes. 



From the middle of December to the end of April., 

 the rains ceafe, and the weather becomes agreeable, 

 the heat being fomelhing abated by the N. E. winds 

 which then fet in. This fcafon they call fummer; 

 befidcs which, there is another called the little fum- 

 mer of St. John, as, about the fefiival of that faint, 

 the rains are intermitted, and refreihing gales begin to 

 blow, and continue about a month. 



The invariable continuance of fuch great heats, 

 without any fenfible difference between night and 

 .day, occalions fuch profuie perfpiration, that the wan 

 and livid complexion of the inhabitants would make 

 a firanger lufpe6l they were jufi recovered from fome 

 terrible ditlemper. Their actions are conformable to 

 their colour; in all their motions there is fomething 

 lax and fluggilli ; it even affeéls their fpeech, which 

 is loft and flow, and their words generally broken. 

 Bat notvvithfianding all thefe appearances of ficknets 

 and debility, they enjoy a good ftate of health. 

 Strangers from Europe retain their firength and ruddy 

 colour pofitibly for three or four months ; but after- 

 wards both fuíFer fuch decays from the exceilive per- 

 fpiration, that thefe new comers are no longer to be 

 diflinguifhed by their countenances from the old in- 

 habitants. Young perfons are generajly mofi affeóted 

 by the climate, which fpares the more aged, who pre- 

 ferve their vivid countenance, and fo confirmed a 

 flate of health as even to reach their 8oth year and 



upwards; 



