734 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810. 



termined the shades of variation 

 with the same strong lines which 

 she has affixed to most other situ- 

 ations under her dominion. With- 

 in the tropics, a change of 

 wind, or a shower of rain, often 

 produces a sudden and singular 

 revolution in atmospherical regu- 

 larity, and occasions a no less in- 

 stantaneous effect on the human 

 system. The periodical rains 

 which fall in this country, and 

 that are neither considered unrea- 

 sonable nor extraordinarj', might 

 almost presage a returning deluge, 

 did they happen in some other 

 parts of the world. But the wet 

 season, as it is emphatically deno- 

 minated, is not considered here 

 the season of disease. It is fatally 

 otherwise with the whole of the 

 West Indies. The most frequent 

 and violent instances of sicknesses 

 which occur at Honduras, happen 

 during the dry season which is 

 usually comprehended within the 

 months of April, May, and June. 

 The sun, during this space is 

 always most powerful, and its 

 scorching rays are not mitigated 

 by the same uniformity of breeze 

 that prevails during the other 

 months of the year. At the be- 

 ginning of October, what are call- 

 ed the norths, north winds, com- 

 mence, and generally continue, 

 with little variation, till the return 

 of February or March. Whilst 

 these winds last, the mornings 

 and evenings are cold, frequently 

 unpleasantly so ; and what in this 

 country is understood by a wet 

 north, might perhaps furnish no 

 very imperfect idea of a November 

 day in England ; a dry north, on 

 the contrary, is healthful, agree- 

 able, and invigorating. The state of 

 the weather during the norths is 



extremely variable ; for a depres- 

 sion of more than 15 degrees in the 

 thermometer has been remarked 

 in the space of a few hours. 

 Thunderstorms are frequent dur- 

 ing the greater part of the year, 

 and in the hottest months are 

 often tremendously violent." 



The remainder of captain Hen- 

 derson'sfirst chapter isoccupied by 

 a concise description of the townof 

 Balize, together with an outline of 

 the coast. Chapter II. exhibits 

 a brief view of the commercial ad- 

 vantages of Honduras ; which (the 

 author thinks) might be found 

 the most convenient depot of trade 

 in this part of the world. Its im- 

 mediate contiguity to so many 

 important stations on the conti- 

 nent, seems to strengthen thisopi- 

 nion, and to render it in most 

 respects, for all purposes required, 

 more eligible than any of the Ba- 

 hama or West-India Islands. We 

 have been accustomed to regard 

 the mahogany and logwood which 

 this settlement produces, as the 

 principal objects of commerce : but 

 captain H. shews that they are to 

 be considered in a secondary point 

 of view only ; and describes the 

 soil and climate as being adapted 

 to the culture of most of the 

 productions of the West-India 

 islands*. 



The fislieries of the bays of 

 Honduras and Cam peachy are 

 commonly productive ; but the 

 most profitable is that of the 

 turtle. 



The chief property of the 

 planters consists in slaves, import- 

 ed mostly from Africa by theinter- 

 course with Jamaica ; " but many 

 of them arc Creoles of the different 

 West-India islands, and several 

 have been brought into the settle- 



