CHAPTER II 



METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 



There is not much known about the cUmate of the Dutch West 

 Indian Islands. 



As they form part of the Caribean Islands it will be sufficient 

 for me to give all I found about the climate of these Islands 

 in Hann, Handbuch der Meteorologie, 2e Aufl. Stuttgart 1897. 

 The direction of the winds does not change very much and 

 throughout the year there is generally the N. E. tradewind. 

 The amount of rain is mostly about 1200 — 2000 mm. a year; 

 the maxima of rainfall are in May and October; the dry months 

 are February and March. The mean temperature varies from 

 24—26° in January and 26—28° in July. 



The following list shows the quantity of rain that will fall on the 

 Dutch West Indian Islands and the neighbouring Islands St. 

 Croix and St. Kitts. 



