Chap. II. DIUENAL CYCLE OF PHENOMENA. 63 



The heat increased rapidly towards two o'clock (92° 

 and 93° Fahr.), by which time every voice of bird or mam- 

 mal was hushed ; only in the trees was heard at inter- 

 vals the harsh whirr of a cicada. The leaves, which were 

 so moist and fresh in early morning, now became lax and 

 drooping ; the flowers shed their petals. Our neighbours 

 the Indian and Mulatto inhabitants of the open palm- 

 thatched huts, as we returned home fatigued with our 

 ramble, were either asleep in their hammocks or seated 

 on mat^ in the shade, too languid even to talk. On 

 most days in June and July a heavy shower would fall 

 some time in the afternoon, producing a most welcome 

 coolness. The approach of the rain-clouds was after a 

 uniform fashion very interesting to observe. First, 

 the cool sea-breeze, which commenced to blow about 

 10 o'clock, and which had increased in force with the 

 increasing power of the sun, would flag and finally die 

 away. The heat and electric tension of the atmosphere 

 would then become almost insupportable. Languor 

 and uneasiness would seize on every one ; even the 

 denizens of the forest betraying it by their motions. 

 Wliite clouds would appear in the east and gather into 

 cumuli, with an increasino^ blackness alono^ their lower 

 portions. The whole eastern horizon would become 

 almost suddenly black, and this would spread upwards, 

 the sun at length becoming obscured. Then the rush 

 of a mighty wind is heard through the forest, swaying 

 the tree-tops ; a vivid flash of lightning bursts forth, 

 then a crash of thunder, and do\vn streams the deluging 

 rain. Such storms soon cease, leaving bluish-black 

 motionless clouds in the sky until night. Meantime all 



