CAPTAIN TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE. 201 
when the numerous flowers are in blossom. ‘The natives 
eat wild honey whenever they find it, but are never at the 
trouble of searching for it; nor do they know the value of 
wax. Sweet-scented flowers smelling like the jasmine and 
jonquils. 
The end of the rainy season is unquestionably the best 
tume for a botanist. i 
This day for the first time observed that the river had 
begun to rise. 
The names of the seasons are as under. The dry season, 
or winter, is called Gondy assivoo ; it is from April to Sep- 
tember inclusive. 
The first rains are called Madlola mantity; they fall in light 
showers once or twice in 24 hours ; commence the latter end 
of September, and continue to the middle of October. At 
this time the women prepare the ground with the hoe 
for planting Indian corn, beans, manioc, &c. 
The second rains are called Voolaza mansanzy ; commence 
in November and end in January ; they are represented as 
being very heavy, attended with great heat, but with few 
tornados. They now plant Indian corn, &c. which ripens 
in three months. 
The third rains are named V oolaza chintomba, and continue 
during the months of February and March. The rain still 
Dd 
