244 FOREST OUTINGS 



lengthwise, throwing two-thirds of the drainage northward toward the 

 Atlantic coast and one-third to the south coast into the Caribbean Sea. 



The Luquillo Mountains on the east end of this divide stand full in the way 

 of moisture-laden trade winds. There, on the north slopes of the Caribbean 

 National Forest, 200 inches of rain falls on an average each year. Many of 

 the moist winds are swept along the entire north side of the central range and 

 provide ample water for all. But on the south coast, across the divide, rain- 

 fall is meager, a scant 20 inches in some localities. There, water has to be 

 collected in rain barrels, stored in lake reservoirs, or pumped from deep wells 

 and distributed by irrigation ditches to fields and stock. 



Water is life in hot countries, and much water is needed to keep the people 

 alive. Several large rivers, numerous small streams, and innumerable 

 rivulets are sufficient while it rains; but when dry weather sets in the steep 

 slopes run dry. Rivers become trickles over stony beds. The watercourses 

 play an important part in the life of the people. Roads from the coastal areas 

 parallel the larger ones and follow the easier topography of their valleys into 

 the rugged interior. Rivers carry to the sea impurities which would other- 

 wise be a potential menace to people in times of epidemics. In those same 

 rivers they wash their clothes, slake their thirst, water their stock. 



Visitors consider the climate of Puerto Rico one of its greatest assets. 

 Year-round temperatures average 76 F. Strong contrasts, marking the 

 seasons of the North are lacking, yet the climate has little of the monotonous 

 heat characteristic of a tropical or subtropical country. The variation in 

 temperature results mainly from differences in elevation, absence of lengthy 

 wet and dry seasons common in parts of the Tropics, and to the cool trade 

 winds that bring changes of humidity and billowy clouds. 



But occasionally (four times since 1898) a tropical hurricane hits the 

 island and does tremendous damage. Fortunately few lives are lost, thanks 

 to advance storm warnings issued by the United States Weather Bureau 

 and to well-constructed storm shelters. These severe storms influence the 

 habits and philosophy of the rural Puerto Rican. He dates his birth, mar- 

 riage, and death by their occurrence. He knows his house and most of his 

 worldly goods will be destroyed, so he is content with little, to hold his 

 losses small. And even though he names individual storms for religious 



