362 Capt. Kelly on the Temperature of [May, 



throat parched, and other exceedingly uncomfortable sensations 

 excited, although it is generally said to give wounds and ulcers 

 a strong predisposition to heal. The maximum of the thermo- 

 meter is seldom above 75° Fahr. 10° lower than it is both before 

 and after it. Its duration varies from two or three to seventeen 

 or eighteen days ; this may be considered as part of the fine 

 season, which continues till the tornados again commence. It 

 is not peculiar to this part alone, but prevails throughout the 

 whole extent of tropical Africa. 



The Gold Coast, which is said to commence at Cape Appollo- 

 nia, but more properly at Cape Three Points, and ends at Cape 

 Saint Paul, comes next in the line of coast ; and as it differs 

 both in height and appearance from that further to windward, so 

 does it both in climate and salubrity. 



The tornado season commences early in March, and ends 

 about the middle of May ; they are by no means either so violent 

 or frequent as on the coast east or west of it. Towards their 

 close, and immediately preceding the rains, strong southerly 

 squalls with heavy rain are sometimes experienced, but unaccom- 

 panied by thunder and lightning. 



About the middle of May, the first rains commence, and con- 

 tinue for six weeks. Europeans who have spent some years in 

 the country, suffer much inconvenience from intermittent fever, 

 but it is seldom attended with danger. 



Early in the month of July, the first rains cease (it is here that 

 cessation commences), and is followed by a dense fog which 

 continues till August. During this period those persons who 

 are not inured to the climate are subject to attacks of the bilious 

 remittent fever, which often proves fatal ; the season when this 

 pestilential disease prevails is comparatively short, arising I 

 imagine from the surface of the land being composed of a light 

 sandy soil, which easily admits the water that falls to run off into 

 the sea, or to be taken up by evaporation ; it is a singular fact 

 that there are no springs on the Gold Coast, and the inhabitants 

 are entirely dependent on reservoirs, in which water is caught 

 and preserved during the rains for the whole year's consumption. 



From the beginning of August to the middle of September, 

 the weather is particularly fine and pleasant, the mean tempera- 

 ture afloat not being more than 78° Fahrenheit. 



To this succeeds the second rains, which last till the end of 

 October, but these are so moderate as not to be more than 

 occasional showers. The weather from this time is fine till the 

 tornado season again commences. In December and January 

 the harmatan occasionally blows as on the windward coast, and 

 with the same effects. 



The Bight of Benin,* from Cape Saint Paul to the river 

 Ramos, is (with the exception of the tornados being much more 



• The Bight of Benin is formed by Cape Saint Paul and Formosa, which are distant 

 from each other about 103 leagues. 



