~ 
42 L. H. Gulick on the Climate and Productions of Ponape. 
The tornadoes or typhoons, so common among the strictly 
“South "Sea" islands of the Pacific, and about the Bonin Islands 
to the north, may be said to be unknown here. Yet some of the 
very oldest inhabitants tell of a gale having swept the island dur- 
ing their early youth which destroyed the breadfruit and cocoanut 
trees so completely that a great famine ensued, by which a very 
large number perished. This was probably a “evelone.” And it 
is worthy of remark that the same thing is said to have occurred 
at nearly the same distance in the past, on Strongs Island, (lat. 
5° 19’ N., long. 163°6’ E.), and with similar effects. It was 
probably the same eyclone that dealt destruction to both islands. 
he humidity of this island is marked, yet equable. During 
which has been recognized as lying between the trade-wind 
zones, and which vibrates riGrth and south with the sun and 
with the trades. The summer is our rainy season; yet situated 
as we are under the northern boundaries of the cloud-zone even 
during its farthest oscillations northward, we are by no means 
ee with rain, as are many tropical localities. There are 
ae s—sometimes of several weeks—of the most de- 
oan lightful weather during all the summer months. The trade-wind 
_ season, during the northern winter, is the driest portion of our 
year; but it ee brings that t_parching heat which is the usual 
ee of ce “dry rae The trades reach us from 
git during their own Be LN ee season, is intrusive during 
a eae 
eres was scarcel 
It may not be misplaced to call attention to ie fact that the 
Northern Pacific generally participated in the meteorologic 
rturbations that ee so wide spread through all the northern 
emisphere during 1856. 
nder and ehtning are rare and faint. It is a significant 
t the natives have seen so little destruction by lightning 
.e few instances which have occurred they never sus- 
agency 
