OF BESTING. 323 



there is not perhaps above an inch of rain, and the 

 thermometer sinks to from 66° to 80°. At this 

 time vegetation is said, in such countries, to " labour 

 under a deadly languor ; but one night's rain con- 

 verts an arid plain into a verdant meadow." 



In most of the West India Islands situated under 

 the tropic of Cancer, there is said not to be much dif- 

 ference in the climate, so that accurate observations 

 made on any one of them may be applied with little 

 variation to them all. Malte Brun gives the follow- 

 ing sketch of their seasons. " The spring begins 

 about the month of May ; the savannas then change 

 their russet hue, and the trees are adorned with 

 a verdant foliage. The periodical rains from the 

 south may at this time be expected ; they fall gene- 

 rally about noon, and occasion a rapid and luxuriant 

 vegetation. The thermometer varies considerably ; 

 it falls sometimes six or eight degrees after the diur- 

 nal rains ; but its medium height may be stated at 

 78° Fahrenheit. After these showers have continued 

 for a short period, the tropical summer appears in all 

 its splendour. Clouds are seldom seen in the sky ; 

 the heat of the sun is only rendered supportable 

 by the sea breeze, which blows regularly from the 

 south east during the greater part of the day. The 

 nights are calm and serene ; the moon shines more 

 brightly than in Europe, and emits a light that ena- 

 bles man to read the smallest print ; its absence is in 

 some degree compensated by the planets, and, above 

 all, by the luniinous effulgence of the galaxy. From 

 the middle of August to the end of September, the 



