4 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 34 



In May in the south and extending to July in the north the main 

 season of rain begins. The dry stream beds become, in many locahties, 

 seething, muddy torrents; water collects in every depression; vegeta- 

 tion springs up with remarkable celerity; animal life in many forms 

 rapidly increases, and the whole life of the people changes. The 

 rainy season has various phases, according to which the activities of 

 the natives are regulated. In some localities heavy thunder showers 

 are of almost daily occurrence, with intermissions of clear weather. 

 The mornings are generally clear and bright, but as the day advances 

 heat and moisture increase, and about midday thunder and rain 

 begin. At times the downpour continues from two to four days 

 and nights, with scarcely an intermission. Night rain is not rare. 

 Notwithstanding this the nights are often cool and comfortable, 

 particularly in the highlands, but elsewhere they are generally hot. 

 In the lowlands near the coast the moisture-laden atmosphere 

 becomes very oppressive and debilitating, and good sleep is often 

 impossible. The rainy season lasts, with more or less regularity, 

 xmtil the end of September. In the more arid parts of the region, 

 in the north, the rains are less frequent and regular than farther 

 south, and during some years practically continuous drought, econom- 

 ically very serious for the Indian, is experienced. The greatest 

 rainfall occurs along the western coast of Mexico. This period, 

 besides affecting profoundly the life of the natives, exercises also 

 a great influence upon their well-being, thought, and culture. 



The soiu-ces of water supply for man in tliis region are springs, 

 pools, and streams ; but during the dry season many of these become 

 exhausted. Tliis entails great hardship, on the white man and his 

 domestic animals, but usually affects less the native, who is better 

 acquainted with the scattered springs and water pockets and in case 

 of necessity moves to a more advantageous location. 



The waters found in tliis vast region possess a variety of charac- 

 teristics. Many pools and streams, especially in the northern part, 

 are charged with mineral products, chiefly with the salts of the alka- 

 line metals, and often they contain also considerable clayey matter. 

 A few of the springs yield good, clear water, but numerous others 

 are more or less charged with mineral substances. Sulphurous and 

 other sjirings of various temperatures are found mostly in the moun- 

 tainous parts of northern Mexico. No really poisonous springs have 

 been observed. The springs, especially those containing hot sul- 

 phurous waters, are frequently iitilized by whites for bathing, and are 

 highly regarded locally for their medicinal properties. A good example 

 of such springs is found at Chapala, Mexico. Water containing 

 hydrogen sulphide is also used as a curative agent by some of the 

 Indians, both internally and externally, though without rational 

 knowledge of its properties. » 



