CAYO HUT I A AND THE REEF 65 



Returning to the schooner in the afternoon we 

 found that Dr. Torre and Lesmes had gone ashore 

 at Santa Lucia to investigate the possibilities of 

 making an inland excursion to Azucar, this being 

 the point of nearest approach from the shore to 

 that mountain. 



Our first chubasco or rain squall struck us this 

 afternoon. These chubascos within the north- 

 east trade belt are very prevalent at this time of 

 the year. They correspond in many respects with 

 our northern thunderstorms but are usually more 

 severe than the average summer shower of the 

 United States. With threatening display of angry 

 clouds, they arise with great suddenness, the wind 

 reaching a terrific violence for a few moments; 

 but the storm path is very narrow. There may 

 or may not be rain or electric phenomena. The 

 origin of these chubascos is certainly quite the 

 same as that of our own thunderstorms. A hot 

 sun expands the air, the colder upper air rushes in 

 to fill the vacuum, condensing the moisture, and 

 until the equilibrium is reestablished a very lively 

 row goes on. When conditions are right for their 

 creation an extensive area may be filled with 

 wandering chubascos that do not necessarily travel 



