50 DUNBAR'S REMARKS ON THE 



to say (what probably may be said of many similar persua- 

 sions) that aiV-T a continued and scrupulous attention to this 

 object; I have not discovered any such regularity of coinci- 

 dence, winch might justify the reverence with which those 

 traditional maxims are at tins day received by all these whose 

 minds are not expanded by the lights of philosophy- 



With the month of February our spring season may be said 

 to commence and southerly winds prevail, as if propitious na- 

 ture was inclined to facilitate the operations of the husband- 

 man, by carrying off the superabundant moisture with which 

 the surface of the earth is drenched after the winter rains. 

 This salutary effect is much more apparent on the Hat lands of 

 lower Louisiana than with us. Those regular gales .are aiso 

 peculiarly favourable in facilitating the ascent of the commer- 

 cial boats, which at this season, with commencement of ttic an- 

 nual inundation, perform their yearly voyage to. die Spanish 

 settlements in the higher parts of Louisiana. 



As the spring and summer advance, the winds blow chiefly 

 from between S. E. and S. W. with variations from all parts of 

 the compass. During the hot season, the winds ^are frequently 

 remarked to follow the progress of the sun, being found at N. 

 E. or East in the morning and shifting round, die away in 

 the evening at S..S. W. — The summer evenings are generally 

 still until between 8 and 9 o'clock when a hue cool zephyr 

 sets in from the West or S. AV. — It has been said that in the 

 lower parts of the territory near the Mississippi tins refreshing 

 nocturnal breeze blows from the East: hitherto correct obser- 

 vations have not been sufficiently multiplied in various parts 

 of the territory to furnish a satisfactory account of this object. 

 The month of June and about one half of July compose 

 the hottest season of the year. Daily refreshing showers of 

 rain commence in July and continue dirough August, winch 

 diminish the excessive degree of heat that otherwise must 

 prevail at this season. The weather continues showery through 

 September, but in October it settles hne, and there is yearly 

 almost without exception 6 or 7 weeks of the most delightful 

 season imaginable, the mean temperature being from 65 to 70*. 

 with variable winds from all points of the compass. 



