MT:TEOROLO(^,trAL. 179 



feront from that of the same months in 1878 and '79; but the 

 rainfall during the same months in 1878 and '79, aggregated only 

 10.18 inches, Avhile during the corresponding period in 1877 and 

 '78, it amounted to 24.05 inches. Indeed, during our visit in 

 1879, there was so little rain that a consequent failure of the 

 fruit crop was apprehended. The average rainfall for the ten 

 years covered by Gov. Rawson's summarized meteorological table, 

 during corresponding months, is 16.9 inches. It thus appears 

 that the Nassau weather from l^ovember, 1877, to May, 1878, 

 was very excej)tionally wet, while during the next following cor- 

 responding period the weather was exceptionally dry. 



While at Nassau in 1879, we were accustomed to daily observe 

 the thermometer and barometer, and a pencil meteorological 

 record upon the white wall of the hotel court was made by a very 

 intelligent and rclia1)le gentleman from Canada, every morning 

 at 7 o'clock. The unvarying steadiness of the temperature and 

 atmospheric pressure, seemed so incredible to some of the guests, 

 tliat, half in earnest and half in jest, they declared that the ther- 

 mometer and barometer had been "lixed up and doctored." I 

 give the state of the thermometer at 7 a. m., for each day, from 

 February 1st, to ^Marcli 12th, inclusive: 



1879— G8, G7, G3, C4, 06, 68, 72, 77, 70, 70, 71, 70, 71, 70, 69, 

 68, 69, 71, 70, 69, 65, 65, 68, 70, 69, 70, 72, 72, 70, 69, 68, 69, 

 70, 69, 70, 70, 70, 70, 70, 71 degrees. For the four last days, at 

 two P. M., the thermometer stood at 75, 74, 74, 75 degrees, and 

 generally the difference between seven a. m. and two p. m. was 

 very small in the shade. The barometer varied but a trifle from 

 tliirty inches. 



But in the noon-day sun, especially in the narrow streets lead- 

 iip from the water, over the hard, white limestone, and between 

 the high white-washed stone walls, the heat is very excessive, 

 und, but for the breeze that constantly blows from off the water. 



