totally unexpected, from the prevalent gloomy char- 

 acter of the rest of the island. The village is sit- 

 uated at the bottom of a valley, hounded by lofty 

 and jagged walls of stratified lava. The black 

 rocks afford a most striking contrast with the bright 

 green vegetation, which follows the banks of a lit- 

 tle stream of clear water. It happened to be a 

 grand feast-day, and the village was full of people. 

 On our return we overtook a party of about twen- 

 ty young black girls, dressed in excellent taste ; 

 their black skins and snow-white linen being set 

 off by coloured turbans and lai'ge shawls. As soon 

 as we approached near, they suddenly all turned 

 round, and covering the path with their shawls, 

 su.ng with great energy a wild song, beating time 

 with their hands upon their legs. We threw them 

 some vintems, which were received with screams 

 of laughter, and we left them redoubling the noise 

 of their song. 



One morning the view was singularly clear ; the 

 distant mountains being projected with the sharp- 

 est outline, on a heavy bank of dark blue clouds. 

 Judging fi'om the appearance, and fi'om similar 

 cases in England, I supposed that the air was sat- 

 urated with moisture. The fact, however, turned 

 out quite the contrary. The hygrometer gave a 

 difference of 29-6 degrees, between the tempera- 

 ture of the air, and the point at which dew was 

 precipitated. This difference was nearly double 

 that which I had obsen^ed on the previous morn- 

 ings. This unusual degi'ee of atmospheric dryness 

 was accompanied by continual flashes of lightning. 

 Is it not an uncommon case, thus to find a remark- 

 able degree of aerial transparency with such a 

 state of weather? 



Generally the atmosphere is hazy ; and this is 

 caused by the falling of impalpablv fine dust, which 

 A 2 



