EXPLORATIONS IN CAPE REGION. 739 



during the night, even in the month of March. But from 

 that month to December, even at this altitude, of from 

 4000 to 6000 feet, no frosts occur. As during the cold 

 months rain seldom falls, snow is never formed, in fact,, 

 snow has never been noticed in any part even on the 

 highest peaks. The frost evidently only settles in low 

 and damp places. Even during an occasional rain storm,. 

 in January, it is never sufficiently cold to precipitate snow 

 on the highest peaks, some of which undoubtedly reach 

 8000 feet, the highest one measured by us being over 

 7000 feet. As a consequence of this favorable tempera- 

 ture, tender, tropical, horticultural plants, such as pine- 

 apples, coffee, etc., thrive anywhere along the low coasts 

 and up the San Jose Valley as far as La Palma or higher. 

 The nights are always tempered by breezes from the sur- 

 rounding ocean, and even the days are never excessively 

 hot, while in winter the temperature on the lower levels 

 is such that blankets are needed during the nights, and 

 light overcoats during morning and evening. From Oc- 

 tober to June the days, even the warmest, are very 

 pleasant and most enjoyable. The warm months are 

 June to September, though by the middle of September 

 the heat is rapidly decreasing. Even during the warm 

 first half of September, the warmest part of the year, the 

 temperature seldom rises above 90. During September 

 we thus found generally about 88 Fah. in the shade in 

 the house, during the hottest part of the day, while at 

 night the temperature in the house averaged 82 Fah., 

 cooling off towards morning. The change is thus slow 

 and gradual. It must be remembered that this was con- 

 sidered as exceptionally warm, no such hot weather 

 having occurred for years. 



Surrounded as the Cape Region is by the ocean, it en- 

 joys an exceptionally clear atmosphere. The sk}^ is 



