14 THE BERMUDA ISLANDS. 



some four or five degrees and usually the early hours of morn- 

 ing were the most oppressive. At that time the atmosphere is 

 more settled, and in a measure lacking in those refreshing 

 breezes which make the climate, despite the heaviness which 

 a moisture-laden atmosphere brings with it, pleasantly bearable. 

 Except in localities where you are temporarily debarred from 

 the benefits of the breezes, the heat is in no way oppressive, and 

 on the open waters we found that the difficult work of dredge- 

 hauling could be done without special fatigue, and without 

 drawing perspiration. Indeed, this work was not nearly as 

 trying as I found it two years before in the. waters of Nantucket 

 Island. The balmy air of evening and the later hours is de- 

 licious, and permits of a night being passed in the open air 

 without discomfort. Only from sudden showers is any annoy- 

 ance to be anticipated. These, however, are sometimes very 

 sudden, and seemingly the rain falls at times when it would 

 be least expected. It was a common saying with us that a 

 clouded sky could be relied upon, whereas the opposite was 

 threatening. The passing off of a shower is, however, just as 

 rapid as its beginning, and often the whole rain was over in a 

 few seconds. Only once did we experience a lasting furious 

 rain, but then the water descended in torrents. But within an 

 hour after the close even of this rain the roads were practically 

 dry. 



