

THE REGION OF CONSTANT RAINS. 159 



that is to say, they rarely overstep what we have 

 ventured to assign as the approximate limits of the zone 

 of double rainy seasons, on their equatorial boundaries. 



Equatorial storms, therefore, such as we are now 

 referring" to, are generally of but brief and ephemeral 

 character. They are grand and imposing while they 

 last; and no less so in the rapid manner in which 

 they generally pass away; the perfect stillness that 

 succeeds one of these passing storms always being 

 most impressive, as if the word of Divine command 

 " Peace Be still ! " had been sent forth. In the region 

 of the Double Rainy Seasons, say between the paral- 

 lels of 5 to 15 degrees of latitude, or thereabouts these 

 storms, however, increase in violence, and last longer than 

 they do in the calm belt, where constant rains prevail. 



What is meant by the term " constant rains " is that 

 very little difference exists between what are considered 

 the wet and dry parts of the year; the days being 

 always liable to be varied with intervals of rain and 

 sunshine ; only at the time of the transit of the sun 

 in the zenith, in spring and autumn, the rains that 

 follow are generally heavier for the time being than 

 at other times. Thus at Batavia (Lat. 6 8' o" N., Long. 

 1 06 48' 7" E.*) this is exactly the climate that prevails, 

 throughout the year, " little difference existing between 

 the wet and dry seasons, but generally the dry season 

 which lasts from July to December, is varied with 

 showers, and the wet, from January to June, with 

 sunny days." f 



At places on the other side of the equator, these 



* See Norries' Navigation, 2ist edit., 1877, "Tables of Geographical 

 Positions," and that of " The Batavia Observatory." 



f Tropical Nature, by Alfred R. Wallace, 1878, p. 26. 



