BOOK III. CHAP. VII. 609 



Wlien the weather has been perfeflly fair at S^anifii Town (al- 

 though lieavy rains fell for fome days preceding), I have known an 

 inceiiant rain, of thirty hours duration, at the North fide, in the 

 month of Oilober. 



In the month of March were very hard rains at Spanifh Town ; 

 and, at the fame time, great complaints of dry weather at tlio 

 North fide. 



The Rio Cobre was flooded in the fame month, and feveral 

 times ran over the bridge; and the Vale of Luidas was deluged 

 with rain ; whilft the North fide parifhes, St. Mary and St. Anne, 

 continued exceflively dry. 



From an oppofition of currents in the air may proceed the fre- 

 quent cahns and gentle fea-breezes obferved on the South fide in 

 Auguft and September. Hence alfo we may account for the frefher 

 land-winds, which now begin to gain the afcendency, till the fea- 

 wind fettles in the Northerly points. 



In June and July, the trade-wind is generally violent, and blows 

 late in the evening, commonly hardcft at the South fide, and fixed 

 at South-eaft. At fuch time, the fun is near the Northern Tropic ; 

 but, when he declines towards the Southern, a cool wind then be- 

 gins from the contrary fide of the ifland, and blows towards the 

 South fide. The land-wind blows later in the morning, comes oil 

 earlier in the evening; and the fea-breeze is fiiint and irregular. 

 This is ufually firfl: perceived about the latter end of Auguft. 



Thefe remarks, founded on the experience of feveral years, will 

 contribute perhaps to explain the caufe of that difference in cli- 

 mate fubfifting betwixt the North and South fides of the iiland ; by 

 which means the canes arrive fo many months earlier at maturity 

 in the latter than the former; and likewife of thofe fingular devia- 

 tions which diftinguifh this iiland from the Britifh Windward Hles> 

 which, being comparatively low and fmall, and nearer the Equi- 

 noctial, are perflated with the regular trade, and have no land- 

 winds. 



It is no fmall pre-eminence to enjoy this variation of temperature 



in the different diffriifls of the ifland ; by which the annual crop is, 



in general, rendered more even and uniform, fince, if it fails in 



one part, it is found to make amends in the others. A choice of 



Vol. II. 4 I fituations,. 



