U2 OBSEEVATIONS ON THE WINDS. 



which, coming from the interior, always blows off shore. The sea-breeze 

 comes on at about 9 or 10 in the forenoon, and continues while the sun is 

 above the horizon, increasing its force as that luminary augments its 

 altitude, and diminishing in a similar proportion as the sun's altitude 

 decreases. Thus, when the sun is on the meridian, the sea-breeze is at 

 the maximum of i^;S strength ; and at the time that the sun reaches the 

 horizon this breeze has perceptibly ceased. The land-breeze commences 

 before midnight, and continues until the rising of the sun, sometimes 

 longer. A space of some hours intervenes between the land-breeze ceasing 

 and the sea-breeze coming on, during which there is a perfect calm. 



The annual period of the Trade Wind here is produced by the proximity 

 or distance of the sun, which occasions the only two seasons known in the 

 Tropics, the rainy and dry seasons. The first lasts from June to November, 

 when the sun is in the Tropic of Cancer, and heavy rains with loud thunder 

 are prevalent. In this season the wind is generally to the Southward of 

 East, but interrupted by frequent calms, yet it occasionally blows with 

 force, and the atmosphere is thick and cloudy. 



When the sun removes to the Tropic of Capricorn, the dry season com- 

 mences, and then the Trade Wind, which is steady at N.E., is cool and 

 agreeable. At this season, North and N.W. winds are sometimes found 

 blowing with much force ; and, indeed, in some degree, they regularly 

 alternate with the general wind, as they are more frequent in November 

 and December than in February and March. 



In the change of the seasons there is a remarkable difference ; for in 

 April and May no change is experienced in the atmosphere, and the weather 

 is, in general, beautifully fine ; but in August, September, and October, 

 there are usually calms, or very light winds ; and dreadful Hurricanes in 

 these months sometimes render the navigation perilous. From these perils, 

 however, are generally exempted the Island of Trinidad, the Coasts of 

 Venezuela (the oldTierra Firma), the Bays of Darien and Honduras, and 

 the Bight of Vera Cruz, which the Hurricanes seldom reach. In the space 

 of sea between the greater Antillas (Cuba, Jamaica, Hayti, and Porto Eico), 

 and the South American coast, the general N.E. or Trade Wind regularly 

 prevails ; but near the shore local peculiarities are found. 



(65.) Jamaica. — At Jamaica the air is, inmost places, hot and unfavour- 

 able to European constitutions ; but the cool sea-breezes, which set in every 

 morning, render the air more tolerable ; and that upon the high grounds 

 is temperate, pure, and cooling. It hghtens almost every night, but with- 

 out much thunder; nevertheless, when the latter happens, it is very 

 terrible, and roars tremendously. 



On the Northern side of the island the sea-breeze from the South-East- 

 lyard comes on in the morning, and gradually increases until noon, when 

 it is strongest ; at two or three in the afternoon its force diminishes ; and, 

 in general, it entirely ceases by five o'clock. About eight in the evening 

 the land-breeze begins ; this breeze extends to the distance of 12 miles to 

 the Southward from the island. It increases imtil midnight, and ceases 

 at about four in the morning. 



The sea and land-breezes are more regular than otherwise from the latter 

 part of January \mtil May. In the middle of May the sea-breeze generally 



